"But excuse me, Miss Burton. I too considered it settled; but circumstances having altered so entirely—"
"Could you suppose for a moment, that because I had lost the phantom of a fortune which I never possessed, I would accept the man—whose kindness I was always grateful for, but whose love I had refused before because I could not give him any in return?"
"No. I did not suppose so. You gave me a reason for refusing my attentions then, which I have the best ground for believing no longer exists."
"What was the reason I gave you then?"
"That you loved another."
"And what ground have I given you for supposing that such has ceased to be the case?"
"You have not given me any. He has."
Lucy started. The blood rushed to her forehead, and then back to her heart.
"Where is he?" she cried, clasping her hands. "For God's sake, tell me."