He hesitated, and then answered bluntly: “Perhaps if I had a brother I should not wish it, but I am the last of my name, and I must not let it die with me. I shall count myself fortunate if you will consent to be my wife, and so far as it may lie in my power I will promise that you shall not have cause to regret it. May I tell Sylvester that we have agreed to join hands?”
“ Qu’importe? It is his command, and naturally he knows we shall be married. Do you think we shall be happy?”
“I hope so, cousin.”
“Yes, but I must tell you that you are not at all the sort of man I thought I should marry. It is very disheartening. I thought that in England one was permitted to fall in love and marry of one’s own choice. Now I see that it is just the same as it is in France.”
He said with a touch of compassion: “You are certainly very young to be married, but when Sylvester dies you will be alone, and your situation would be awkward indeed.”
“That is quite true,” nodded Eustacie. “I have considered it well. And I dare say it will not be so very bad, our marriage, if I can have a house in town, and perhaps a lover.”
“Perhaps a what?” demanded Shield, in a voice that made her jump.
“Well, in France it is quite comme il faut— in fact, quite à la mode —to have a lover when one is married,” she explained, not in the least abashed.
“In England,” said Sir Tristram, “it is neither comme il faut nor à la mode.”
“ Vraiment, I do not yet know what is the fashion in England, but naturally if you assure me it is not à la mode, I won’t have any lover. Can I have a house in town?”