"Yes."
"Well, why now, sir, raise that as an argument?"
"It is because, knowing that you were not his sister, he has learned to love you other than as he could love a sister."
"Oh, father!"
"Yes, such is the case, and he has forced me to tell you the truth, that you may know just how he feels toward you, that you may understand that he is to make you his wife?"
"What! he expects me, one believing herself his sister, to wed him? Never! I have regarded him ever as a brother, and as a brother only. I have never felt the love for him as a brother that I could have wished to feel, for there was that about Herbert that would not win my sisterly regard more. Perhaps it has been his knowledge of the truth, that we had no kindred blood in our veins, that has made him act toward me as he has, but I regard him now as though he were in reality my brother, and no power on earth can make me love him otherwise, or hear one word of love from him. Tell him so, sir, tell him that if he does not wish me to hate him, to despise him, he must never hint of love to me other than what he could feel for an own sister."
She had risen now and spoke with a suppressed passion that showed how deeply she felt her position, and, gazing upon her, and her determined expression, Vance Bernard said, anxiously:
"Herbert was right, after all; you do love that accursed cavalry officer, Kit Carey!"