"Why not?"
"It is impossible!" said Talbot, firmly.
"Oh heavens!" moaned Brooke, in a tone of despair.
"Oh, Brooke, do not talk like that!" said Talbot, entreatingly. "Have I not already said all that can be said?"
"Well," said Brooke, "listen to reason for a moment. Only think what marriage is. It is a union of two loving hearts. In Scotland people marry themselves. Why cannot you do in Spain what you might safely do in Scotland?"
"Yes," said Talbot, "and in Turkey a man may marry a hundred wives. Why may not you do in Spain what you may safely do in Turkey? Oh, Brooke! Brooke! Are you altogether candid now, and true to your better self? Do not tempt me, Brooke. Do not try to shake me. My mind is clear on this point. I cannot do wrong, not even to please yon, Brooke."
As Talbot said this she looked at Brooke with a glance that penetrated to his soul. Her eyes showed unfathomable tenderness and devotion, yet her face and her voice told of a resolve that was immutable.
Then Brooke tried another tone.
"Confound these Spaniards!" he cried. "Talbot! Talbot! Come, why not marry this couple of cursed fools and have done with it?"
Of these words Talbot took no notice whatever. She was silent for a time and thoughtful. Then she went on to speak: