"I love you enough to give you my life," I said.
"You were always so good to me. It is this, Jack—our secret: Colonel Goff and I will be married as soon as he can arrange to go back to England, in a month or two. I don't want any scene with Aunt Lucretia, and so, and so, Jack, we'll just make-believe—let her believe it is all right—that we are carrying out her plans up to the very day."
"I'll say nothing," I answered; "you and Aunt Lucretia can arrange it."
"You'll have to act as if you loved me, Jack."
"I cannot act any other way," I said.
She laughed, her voice floating up triumphantly. "And you will have to send me that diamond ring, you know—"
"Eloise," I said again, after a moment, "this is desecration! You know you don't love that old man!"
"I like him enough to be the Countess of Carfax. If I've got to be sold to anyone, Jack," she said with bitterness, "got to be traded off like a Jersey, why I'd rather be traded off as the Countess of Carfax than any other way!"
I flushed hot.
"But Jack, think of grandfather. It is that or be turned out."