She frowned and blushed slightly at this.
“I'd willingly resign all my independence to you, Elinor.”
“This is nonsense, Stephen,” she said quickly.
“You always put me off with that!” he said. “You know it's not nonsense! You know I am serious. Help me make something of myself—shall I tell you all this involves?” he reached out, but she avoided his hand. He drew back ruefully. There was a moment's silence, then he said:
“There's one thing I'd like to know, Elinor, it's about Wade. May I ask you?”
“About Ben, what about Ben?” she asked.
“Do you care for him?” he demanded eagerly.
“Yes, very much, but not as you have evidently been silly enough to suppose. How could you, Stephen! It is Clara he is interested in. You are not usually so dull.”
“Clara?”
“They are waiting until Ben can make a living. She is very young. I don't suppose mother would be willing she should marry even if Ben's practice was as large now as he seems to think it will be in two or three years.”