"I've been wanting to have a long talk with you alone ever since I came back."
"Have you? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because what I want to say is very difficult, Mary; and I'm afraid it must be very—distressing to both of us."
"What do you mean?"
Mary suddenly became grave, James glanced at her, and hesitated; but there was no room for hesitation now. Somehow he must get to the end of what he had to say, attempting only to be as gentle as possible. He stood up and leant against the mantelpiece, still toying with the paper-knife; Mary also changed her seat, and took a chair by the table.
"Do you know that we've been engaged for over five years now, Mary?"
"Yes."
She looked at him steadily, and he dropped his eyes.
"I want to thank you for all you've done for my sake, Mary. I know how good you have been to my people; it was very kind of you. I cannot think how they would have got along without you."
"I love them as I love my own father and mother, Jamie. I tried to act towards them as though I was indeed their daughter."