"Yes," she assented, still more dejectedly.
"My beautiful love! You will really come? When? At once?"
"At—Oh, no, no!"
"Darling, the sooner the better. I understand 'tis a great step to expect you to take in a hurry, but I assure you 'tis wisest. Can you come to-morrow?"
Her big eyes dilated.
"No! No! I—oh, I cannot leave Dicky so soon!" She ended with a sob.
"But, Lavinia, my dearest! You surely do not want to stay with him?" he cried.
"Yes I do!" she answered. "I—I don't want ever to leave him!"
This blighting speech left him gasping.
"You—but—heavens! what are you saying? You love me!"