“But if he knew how tenderly and truly I loved you——”
“You must not say one word about it, to him or to any one,” came the firm hard voice.
“Is it because you are—you are ashamed of loving me, Alfred?” she asked, quivering.
“No. But it is my wish. That should be enough.”
She was silent for a moment.
“It is enough,” she answered slowly, “your wish shall be my law in this as in all things. But you will take me up to town?” she pleaded. “You can go to the Blue Lion, to Steggalls’, and tell them to drive you back to Liphook now.”
“I have no money with me,” he said firmly.
“It will go down to my account, darling,” she continued, as if she had not heard the interruption. “You can take the quarter to one train from Liphook to London; it stops at Witley. I will be on the platform, and we will go on together.” She ventured to stand now, and held out her hands again, almost entreatingly.
“You will say nothing to Sir William?”
“Alfred, you are my lord and master,” and she bowed her head on to her breast. But he was wholly untouched.