"I cannot."
If Elinor had told the whole truth she would have added, "I do not wish to."
"Then at least put them aside and deal with me in cold business terms as though we were the strangers thy cousins believe us to be. Wilt thou have me for thy tenant on shares—three quarters of the harvest to go to thee and one quarter to me?"
"Tenant of mine thou shalt never be. I could not be so unfair, to let thee give thy life for me and get nothing in return!"
"To let me do the thing I have set my heart on and get in return a sight of thee once in the year. That is to make one three-hundred-and sixty-fifth of every year blessed."
"My tenant," said Elinor, slowly, "thou canst not be."
Neville bent his head.
"But—"
"Blessed be but—! But what?"