"What awoke you?" was the interruption.
"I think it was Cyril Dare's asking for her. I debated with myself then, whether I ought to give up going to your house; but I came to the conclusion that, so long as I was able to hide my feelings from her, I need not banish myself. My judgment was wrong, I know; but the temptation to see her occasionally was great, and I did not resist it."
"And so you continued to go, feeding the flame?"
"Yes. Feeding it passionately and hopelessly; never forgetting that the pain of separation must come!"
"Did you hear of Sir Harry Marr's offer?"
"Yes, I heard of it."
William swept his hand across his face as he spoke. It wore a wrung expression. Mr. Ashley changed his tone.
"William, I cannot decide this matter, one way or the other. You must ask Mary to do that!"
"Sir!"
"If Mary chooses to favour you more than she does other suitors, I will not forbid her doing it. Only this very day she begged me, with tears, to keep all such troublesome customers away from her; to refuse them of my own accord. But it strikes me that you may as well have an answer from herself!"