“By the way,” and Brownie glanced up mischievously, “do you know that that honor was intended for you?”
“I surmised as much from certain circumstances which came to my knowledge,” he replied, with a scornful curl of his fine lips. “But,” he added, a moment after, as he gathered her close in his arms, “she will find that there was one who could look beneath the surface. My darling—my darling—my pure little pearl! what is she compared with you?”
“Lady Ruxley will be very much disappointed, Adrian.”
“I presume so; I should be somewhat surprised if she was not. But is Lady Ruxley of more consequence than some one else whom you know?” the young man asked, as, placing one finger beneath her chin, he raised the blushing face so that he could look into the lovely eyes.
“No; oh, no—but——” with a little smile.
“But what, dear?” questioned her lover, tenderly, as he saw the sensitive lips quivering.
“But, Adrian, I may as well say it first as last—I shrink from the ordeal which I know must come.”
“What ordeal?” he asked, very gravely.
“I have heard that you are allied to a noble house—that you are some time to inherit great possessions and a title, though just what that title is I know not; and I fear that your proud kinsmen will scorn the idea of a poor, friendless waif like me becoming your wife!”
“Who informed you that I was heir to such ‘great expectations,’” he asked, with a quiet smile.