He had drawn Ella’s pretty head close till it all but rested on his shoulder, suddenly she drew herself away and faced him with anxious eyes and tremulous mouth.
“Morbid about my future! How do you mean?” she exclaimed.
“What a fool I am,” Philip replied. “I forgot you didn’t understand. It was only, darling, that the money that should have been for you—Madelene and Ermine having very large fortunes from their mother—was lost several years ago. And there might have been difficulties, once your sisters were married and all that, in the way of their making any certain provision for you, so—”
“So Madelene would have sacrificed herself for me?” Ella interrupted.
“In a sense, yes, I suppose I must say so. But also for the sake of your father’s peace of mind, and the fear of not being free to do her duty as a wife. She has mounted it all up most ingeniously. But now—Maddie will be so glad, Ella.”
Ella’s face was turned away however. Sir Philip grew uneasy.
“Ella,” he repeated, and with gentle force he turned her head, so that she had to look at him. She was crying.
Philip changed his tone.
“Ella,” he said gravely, “I don’t think this is fair upon me. Any one to see you, as you are now, would not believe that you were happy in what you have just promised. Are you regretting it already?—if so—”
Ella melted at once.