“Never, Miss Carr.”
“Has—has my name been made the subject of conversation amongst your friends?”
“Never, Miss Carr.”
“Or been coupled with his?”
“Oh! no, no,” I cried, “never. Mr Hallett has rarely mentioned your name.”
“Then how can you—how can you dare to make such an assertion as you did?”
“I don’t know,” I replied thoughtfully. “I could not tell you how it is, but I am sure he does love you as much as I do, Miss Carr.”
“I believe you do, Antony,” she said, bending forward and kissing my forehead. “But, you foolish boy, drive that other notion from your head, and if you do love me, Antony—and I would have you love me, my boy, as dearly as you loved her who has gone—never speak to your dearest friend of our words to-night.”
“Oh, you may trust me for that,” I said proudly.
“I do trust you, Antony, and I see now that your ideas are right about the money. Still, I should like you to help your friend.”