He spoke with indulgent gravity, in the tone of kindness to which his voice was naturally attuned. And Nancy’s reply, though it expressed a stronger feeling, struck the same harmonious note.
‘I can agree with all that. But it applies to people married in the ordinary way. I was speaking of ourselves, placed as we are.’
‘I don’t pretend to like the concealment,’ said Tarrant. ‘For one thing, there’s a suggestion of dishonour about it. We’ve gone over all that—’
‘Oh, I don’t mean that for a moment. It isn’t really dishonourable. My father could never have objected to you for my husband. He only wanted to guard me—Mary says so, and he told her everything. He thought me a silly, flighty girl, and was afraid I should be trapped for the sake of my money. I wish—oh how I wish I had had the courage to tell him! He would have seen you, and liked and trusted you—how could he help?’
‘It might have been better—but who knows whether he would have seen me with your eyes, Nancy?’
‘Yes, yes. But I was going to say——’
She hesitated.
‘Say on.’
‘There are so many difficulties before us, dear.’
‘Not if we continue to think of each other as we do now. Do you mean it might be discovered?’