‘How, Viviette?’ Swithin feared, from her manner, that this was something serious.
‘I would rather not tell.’
‘But—Well, never mind.’
‘Yes, Swithin, I will tell you. There should be no secrets between us. He urges upon me the necessity of marrying, day after day.’
‘For money and position, of course.’
‘Yes. But I take no notice. I let him go on.’
‘Really, this is sad!’ said the young man. ‘I must work harder than ever, or you will never be able to own me.’
‘O yes, in good time!’ she cheeringly replied.
‘I shall be very glad to have you always near me. I felt the gloom of our position keenly when I was obliged to disappear that night, without assuring you it was only I who stood there. Why were you so frightened at those old clothes I borrowed?’
‘Don’t ask,—don’t ask!’ she said, burying her face on his shoulder. ‘I don’t want to speak of that. There was something so ghastly and so uncanny in your putting on such garments that I wish you had been more thoughtful, and had left them alone.’