"Is that the best you can offer us?"
"Louis! Louis!—if it lay only with me—I would do what you wished—even this—if it made you happy—"
He took her in his arms and kissed her in silence.
"You don't understand," she said,—"it is not I—it is the family—our entire little world against her. It would be only an eternal, hopeless, heart-breaking struggle for you, and for her;—pain for you—deep pain and resentment and bitterness for those who did not—perhaps could not—take your views of—"
"I don't care, mother, as long as you and father and Lily stand by her. And Valerie won't marry me unless you do. I didn't tell you that, but it is the truth. And I'm fighting very hard to win her—harder than you know—or will ever know. Don't embitter me; don't let me give up. Because, if I do, it means desperation—and things which you never could understand…. And I want you to talk to father. Will you? And to Lily, too. Its fairer to warn her that I have learned of her meeting Valerie. Then I'll talk to them both and see what can be done…. And, mother, I am very happy and very grateful and very proud that you are going to stand by me—and by the loveliest girl in all the world."
That night Lily came to his room. Her eyes were red, but there was fire in them. She seated herself and surveyed her brother with ominous self-possession.
"Well, Lily," he said pleasantly, prepared to keep his temper at all hazards.
"Well, Louis, I understand from mother that you have some questions to ask me."
"No questions, little sister; only your sympathetic attention while I tell you how matters stand with me."
"You require too much!" she said shortly.