"I do not desire half this," was the warm reply. "You have ever been too generous to me, Isaac. But"--and Frederick St. John laughed gaily--"before I can say that I will marry, it is necessary to fix upon a wife."
"That, I hope, has been done long ago, Frederick."
"Not by me," he answered, speaking very quietly. "It has not of course escaped my observation that you and my mother have had your wishes turned towards Anne: but--I--I--have not encouraged this."
"It has been the universal wish of the St. John family that you and Anne should marry."
"I dare say it has. But the fact is, Isaac, I and Anne do not care for each other. As well perhaps avow it, now it has come to a point Hitherto I have only evaded the question."
"Could you wish for a better wife than Anne?"
"I could not find a better in real worth. But we marry for love, not for worth: at least, worth goes for little when there is no love. My inclinations do not lie towards Anne."
Mr. St. John's face looked deathly pale as he leaned forward. The fatigue of the day was making itself acutely felt: and at these times crosses tell upon the heart.
"Do you know that her father wished it?" he said in low tones. "He mentioned it to me more than once when he was dying--how glad he should be if he thought you would marry Anne. You were but a boy then; but you were a favourite with the earl."
"Fathers' wishes go for little in such matters," was the unwelcome reply.