But she was not sufficiently strong to keep her resolution. "I
wonder, Mr. Greystock," she said, "that you did not attempt to win the
great prize yourself. Cousins do marry."
He had thought of attempting it, and at this moment he would not lie to
her. "The cousinship had nothing to do with it," he said.
"Perhaps you did think of it."
"I did, Lucy. Yes, I did. Thank God, I only thought of it." She could not
refrain herself from looking up into his face and clasping her hands
together. A woman never so dearly loves a man as when he confesses that he
has been on the brink of a great crime, but has refrained and has not
committed it. "I did think of it. I am not telling you that she would have
taken me. I have no reason whatever for thinking so."
"I am sure she would," said Lucy, who did not in the least know what words
she was uttering.
"It would have been simply for her money--her money and her beauty. It
would not have been because I love her."
"Never--never ask a girl to marry you unless you love her, Mr. Greystock."
"Then there is only one that I can ever ask," said he. There was nothing,
of course, that she could say to this.
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