“True! Well, Mr Reed, I will be frank with you. A short time back I had not thought of such a thing. I welcomed you here selfishly, as a visitor who would relieve some of the monotony of my existence. Then, sir, I began to like you, and then by slow degrees I began to see that I had either made a great error, or else fate was working, as she always does, silently. I have been much exercised in my mind as to what I should do, and ended by acting on the defensive, leaving the enemy to declare his plans.”
“And am I the enemy of your peace, sir?”
“Mr Reed, you are, I fear, the enemy of my daughter’s peace, and I say to you, sir, as one who has shown himself to be a man of honour, if there is anything likely to militate against my child’s happiness, for heaven’s sake, sir, speak out, and let this end at once.”
“You say you will be frank with me, sir; I will be frank with you. Not many months back I was engaged to be married.”
“And broke it off?” said the Major sharply.
“No, sir; I was a poor weak lover, I suppose. Too much immersed in business. The lady chose again, or, poor girl, was tricked into another engagement, and is married. I came down here, half mad with despair, to forget my cares in work; and instead I have awakened to the fact there is still happiness for me if I can win it.”
“Ah!” said the Major. “In plain English, then, sir, you wish to speak to Dinah?”
“Yes.”
“You are aware, I suppose, that she has nothing but her own sweet nature with which to endow a man.”
“I never asked myself that question, sir.”