“Humph!” said Benson.
“Am I to understand clearly and distinctly that I am not to see my aunt again? That it is your wish, and that you equally object to my seeing the Nortons?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I mean.”
“I think I'd better tell you that my interest in Elinor Norton is not mere friendship.”
“The Lord save us!” cried the lawyer, with unpleasant mirth. “What has that to do with it?”
“A good deal I think,” said Stephen haughtily.
“What are your prospects that you can consider taking a wife?”
“As good as the prospects of most men who have nothing,” retorted Stephen stoutly.
“If you are reasonable in this one thing, you will have something better than that to offer the woman you marry—only it will not be Miss Norton.”
“It will be no one else,” said Stephen quietly.