“Ah, if you love her, that’s different. I will do as you wish.”
“Speak to her to-morrow,” he insisted. “We are going to breakfast at La Chênaie with Mademoiselle Orlandi’s fiancé.”
“To-morrow? So soon?” was all she said. The invitation had not been given to her personally. But she gave no thought to this discourtesy, and added:
“Wouldn’t it be better to speak to her parents?”
“No,” he answered decidedly, “I don’t want our mother to run the risk of taking a useless step.”
And as they passed through the gate she murmured:
“I want you to be happy!”
He smiled, but not at all confidently.
“Don’t say anything to Mother yet. She doesn’t like that set. Neither do I.” Still he had to admit his weakness at the end.
“But I do love her!” he concluded.