"You have replied. Your mother disliked me very much."
"Well, if you fired that sort of question at her, you can't be surprised, can you?"
"I didn't. I don't blame her. Or you. Only I'm going to marry him. I said I wouldn't at first. I daresay you think I'm a designing hussy, but I did try to choke him off! Only - well, I couldn't! I'm sorry I can't produce a lot of distinguished relations. My mother came of quite humble stock, and I don't suppose you'd like my Italian relations much. My father's family considered that he had married very much beneath him, which, as far as birth goes, I suppose he did. His family thought him a disgrace to their stuffy name, and were extremely glad when he went to live in Italy. I lived with two of that family for eighteen months, until I decided I'd rather starve than stay with them another day. I should add that they disliked me quite as much as I disliked them, and I don't propose ever to see them again! So now you know!"
"One way and another, you seem to have had rather a tough time," said Jim equably.
She looked at him; something in her eyes made him uncomfortable. "Yes," she said. "I have. But now - it seems as though I've been offered a chance of something I want very much. More - more than I can tell you. I'm not going to give him up. If I've got to fight to marry him - well, I shall fight! It's only fair to warn you!"
"You needn't get ready to fight me: I'm not Timothy's keeper. In fact, you won't have to fight anyone. My mother may not like the marriage, but if you and Timothy really love each other she won't try to obstruct. You've nothing to be afraid of from that quarter."
"I'm not afraid!" she said quickly.
"Aren't you? Mind if I give you a bit of advice?"
"What is it?"
"If there's anything about you or about your family which Timothy ought to know, tell him now! Don't wait for him to find it out after you're married. For one thing, it isn't cricket, for another, a Bluebeard's chamber in the home doesn't make for happiness. Sorry if I'm insulting you, but I'm fond of Timothy, and I should hate him to be badly hit. He seems to me to be trusting you up to the hilt, and you don't seem to be trusting him any way at all. Well, that's straight from the shoulder, but you asked for it, didn't you?"