"No rules can control volition, Miss Gregory," said Richard, cruelly embarrassed how to explain himself to the young lady; "but if you tell me that you prefer me to your father—"
"And so I do," exclaimed Mary-Anne quickly.
"Then you are wrong," returned Markham.
"Wrong, indeed! and yet you have just told me that no rules can control volition."
"True; but we must endeavour to conquer those feelings. You say that you like me?—suppose that we were never to meet again; would you not then learn to forget that you ever knew such a being?"
"Impossible! never—never!" cried Mary-Anne enthusiastically. "I am always thinking of you!"
"But the time must come, some day or another—whether now, or a year, or ten years hence—when we must cease to meet. I may be married—or you yourself may marry—"
"Married!" ejaculated Mary-Anne: "do you think of marrying, then, Mr. Markham?"
"I am certainly attached to a young lady," replied Richard; "but there are circumstances which—"
"You are attached to a young lady? Is she beautiful—very beautiful?"