'Does your father know that our engagement is settled?'
'Yes; I told him so.'
'And what does he think of it?'
'He says that it is ridiculous nonsense for me to be engaged to anybody; though of course he prefers you to any one else, as he likes you better than anybody. But darling,' he burst out passionately, 'don't mind what he or any one else thinks or says on the subject: my only chance of getting on and doing anything worth doing, is the certainty that I can think of you as mine!'
'You know, Wilfred, that my heart always has been yours, and that it always will be, whatever happens. But I wish Mr Merton had not suggested this Paris scheme; I don't like the idea of it.'
'You have only to command me to stay at home, Queen Mab, and I will throw every other consideration to the winds.'
'No; I don't wish that. Act as you would if you did not know me at all; I could not bear to feel that I had put any obstacle in the way of your success.'
Their talk during the rest of the time they were together was grave and sedate, quite unlike the usual conversation of two young lovers.
When Wilfred had gone, Mabel was more sad than she cared to admit; the interview seemed to have altered matters very materially.