“You know who I am, Bertha; and——“ he hesitated.
“And what, foolish boy?” she nestled still more closely to him.
“And you’re Miss Ley of Court Leys, while I’m just one of your tenants, with nothing whatever to my back.”
“I’ve got very little,” she said. “And if I had ten thousand a year, my only wish would be to lay it at your feet.”
“Bertha, what d’you mean? Don’t be cruel to me. You know what I want, but——“
“As far as I can make out,” she said, laughing, “you want me to propose to you.”
“Oh, Bertha, don’t laugh at me. I love you; I want to ask you to marry me. But I haven’t got anything to offer you, and I know I oughtn’t—don’t be angry with me, Bertha.”
“But I love you with all my heart,” she cried. “I want no better husband; you can give me happiness, and I want nothing else in the world.”
Then he caught her again in his arms, quite passionately, and kissed her.
“Didn’t you see that I loved you?” she whispered.