‘Did I ever doubt it?’
He returned her embrace ardently, and gazed into her eyes with profound tenderness.
‘Doesn’t the future brighten?’
‘It has been very bright to me, Jasper, since I became your wife.’
‘And I owe my fortune to you, dear girl. Now the way is smooth!’
They placed themselves on a settee, Jasper with an arm about his wife’s waist, as if they were newly plighted lovers. When they had talked for a long time, Milvain said in a changed tone:
‘I am told that your uncle is dead.’
He mentioned how the news had reached him.
‘I must make inquiries to-morrow. I suppose there will be a notice in The Study and some of the other papers. I hope somebody will make it an opportunity to have a hit at that ruffian Fadge. By-the-by, it doesn’t much matter now how you speak of Fadge; but I was a trifle anxious when I heard your story at dinner.’
‘Oh, you can afford to be more independent.—What are you thinking about?’