You shall never have to say that I
pressed you into this marriage or debarred you from marrying. I could not
bear such an accusation."
"But you might tell me what I ought to do."
"No; certainly not."
"Think how young I am, and--by comparison--how old you are. You are eight
years older than I am. Remember, after all that I have gone through, I am
but twenty-two. At my age other girls have their friends to tell them. I
have no one, unless you will tell me."
"You have accepted him?"
"Yes."
"I suppose he is not altogether indifferent to you?"
She paused, and again shook her head. "Indeed I do not know. If you mean,
do I love him, as I could love some man whose heart was quite congenial to
my own, certainly I do not." She continued to shake her head very sadly.
"I esteemed him--when he asked me."
"Say at once that, having made up your mind, you will go through with it."
"You think that I ought?"
"You think so--yourself."
"So be it, Frank. I will. But, Frank, I will not give up my property. You
do not wish me to do that. It would be weak now--would it not? I am sure
that it is my own."
"His faith to you should not depend on that.
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