"The only one I have," said Olive, "and very dear!"
It was some time after this that Mrs. Easterfield was calm enough to stop the flow of exciting conversation and to say to Olive, taking both her hands tenderly within her own: "My dear, we have been talking a great deal of sentiment, and now I want seriously to speak to you on a matter of business."
"Business!" asked Olive in surprise.
"Yes, it is really business from your point of view; and I have come round to that point of view myself. Olive, I want you to marry!"
"Oh," said Olive, "that is it, is it? That is what you call business?"
"Yes, dear; I am now looking at your future, and at marriage in the very sensible way you regarded those matters when you were staying with me."
"But," said Olive, who could scarcely help laughing, "there was a good reason then for my being so sensible, and that reason no longer exists. I can now afford single-blessedness."
"No, Olive, dear, you can not. Circumstances are all against that consummation. You are not made for that sort of thing. And your uncle is an old man, and even with him you need a young protector. I want you to marry Richard Lancaster. You know my heart has been set on it for some time, and now I urge it. You could never bring forth a single objection to him."
"Except that I did not love him."
"Neither did you love the young men you were considering as eligible. Now, do try to be a sensible girl."