A smile crossed Mr. Ashley's face. He probably had known it.
"Cyril Dare!" repeated Mary, as if unable to overcome her astonishment. "He must have turned silly. I would not have Cyril Dare if he were worth his weight in gold."
"And he must be worth a great deal more than his weight in gold, Mary, before I would consent to your having him," quietly rejoined Mr. Ashley.
"Have him!" echoed Henry. "If I feared there was a danger of the daughter of all the Ashleys so degrading herself, I should bribe cook to make an arsenic cake, cut the young lady a portion myself, and stand by while she ate it."
"Don't talk foolishly, Henry," rebuked Mrs. Ashley.
"Mamma, I must say I do not think it would be half so foolish as Cyril Dare was," cried Mary, with spirit.
Mrs. Ashley, relieved from any temporary fear of losing Mary, was comfortably going on with her breakfast. "Did Cyril say how he meant to provide for Mary, if he obtained her?" asked she, with an amused look.
"He did not touch upon ways and means. I conclude that he intended I should have the honour of keeping them both."
Henry Ashley leaned back in his chair, and laughed. "If this is not the richest joke I have heard for a long while! Cyril Dare! the kinsman of Herbert the beautiful! Confound his im-pu-dence!"
"Then you decline the honour of the alliance, Mary?" said Mr. Ashley. "What am I to tell him?"