"You should know my cousin Austin, Lucy.—Darling! Beloved!"
"My own! Richard!"
"You should know my cousin Austin. You shall know him. He would take to you best of them all, and you to him. He is in the tropics now, looking out a place—it's a secret—for poor English working-men to emigrate to and found a colony in that part of the world:—my white angel!"
"Dear love!"
"He is such a noble fellow! Nobody here understands him but me. Isn't it strange? Since I met you I love him better! That's because I love all that's good and noble better now—Beautiful! I love—I love you!"
"My Richard!"
"What do you think I've determined, Lucy? If my father—but no! my father does love me.—No! he will not; and we will be happy together here. And I will win my way with you. And whatever I win will be yours; for it will be owing to you. I feel as if I had no strength but yours— none! and you make me—O Lucy!"
His voice ebbs. Presently Lucy murmurs—
"Your father, Richard."
"Yes, my father?"