"Oh!" said she very softly, "the Lady Sophia Sefton of Cambourne?"
"Yes," said I.
"And—your cousin—Sir Maurice—were the conditions the same in his case?"
"Precisely!"
"Oh!" said Charmian, just as softly as before, "and this lady—she will not—marry you?"
"No," I answered.
"Are you quite—sure?"
"Certain!—you see, I never intend to ask her."
Charmian suddenly raised her head and looked at me,
"Why not, Peter?"