'You never approved of it.'
No, but it was not for me that you broke it off.'
'No, it wasn't on account of you.'
The conversation paused. At last Harold said:
'Are you as indisposed as ever towards marriage? If Alfred were to propose again would you have him?'
'I really don't know. Do you want me to marry? I'm not very pleasant company, I'm well aware of that.'
'You know that I didn't mean that, Mildred. I don't want to press you into any marriage. I've always wished you to do what you like.'
'And I have done so.'
'I still want you to do what you like. But I can't forget that if I were to die to-morrow you would be practically alone in the world—a few cousins——'
'But what makes you think of dying? You're in as good health as ever.'