She extended her hand to him impulsively.
“What motive have I?” he asked. But his face had softened, and a faint smile showed that the cloud had a silver lining.
“For your mother’s sake,” she said. “How happy she would be!”
“I can make my mother happy by kissing her, and telling her she is an angel,” he answered.
It was but too true.
“For poor Annette, then. There is a good deal in her, and she is devoted to you.”
He shrugged his shoulders, and lifted his eyebrows: “She loves me as I am, and would love me if I were ten times as worthless, poor silly girl!”
Miss Pembroke withdrew her hand, and retired a step from him. Again he had spoken the truth, this spoiled favorite of women!
“For God’s sake, then.”
He did not dare give another shrug, for his mentor’s face was losing its kindness. “You know I am not at all pious, Honora,” he said, dropping his eyes.