“I must see Nevil and Cæsar and tell them at once,” he said hurriedly, “then I want you, my dearest. I’ve news for you, which I forgot just now. You must know it, though it makes no difference to us.”
Nevil came out at that moment and she slipped away after Renata with curiosity wide awake.
“Am I to congratulate you as a millionaire or commiserate with you as a bearer of burdens, old fellow?” asked Nevil, flinging himself into a big chair.
“You will congratulate me, I hope, but not about that confounded money though. Nevil, you are Patricia’s guardian. Will you and Renata give her to me?” 337
He spoke abruptly and without any preamble, gripping the back of a chair in his hands. A sudden doubt as to the family acceptance of what was an unquestionable matter in his eyes suddenly assailed him.
“You want to marry Patricia?”
Christopher nodded. “You can hardly urge we have not had time to know our own minds,” he said, smiling a little.
“No,” Nevil admitted, and then added rather distractedly, “What ought I to urge, though, Christopher? Of course it’s the greatest possible thing that could happen to Patricia, but for you?”
“I’m appealing to Patricia’s guardian, who has only her interests to consider. I’ll look after my own. However,” he went on hastily, “it’s only fair to tell you, Nevil, I don’t mean to take either the fortune or the name. So long as you’ll lend me your own I’ll stick to it. Failing that, my mother’s will serve me.”
Nevil made no comment beyond a nod. The younger man waited with what patience he could command.