'What do you mean by that? Why do you ask that? You told me to wait for three months. I have waited, and her I am.'
'How very--very--downright you are.'
'Is not the proper thing?'
'I thought I was downright,--but you beat me hollow. Yes, the three months are over. And now what have you got to say?' He put down his cue, stretched out his arms as though he were going to take her and hold her to his heart. 'No;--no, not that,' she said laughing. 'But if you will speak, I will hear you.'
'You know what I said before. Will you love me, Isabel?'
'And you know what I said before. Do they know you love me? Does your father know it, and your sister? Why did they ask me to come here?'
'Nobody knows it. But say that you love me, and everyone shall know it at once. Yes, one person knows it. Why did you mention Lady Mabel's name? She knows it.'
'Did you tell her?'
'Yes, I went again to Killancodlem after you were gone, and then I told her.'
'But why her? Come, Lord Silverbridge. You are straightforward with me, and I will be the same with you. You have told Lady Mabel. I have told Lady Mary.'
'My sister!'
'Yes;--your sister. And I am sure she disapproves it. She did not say so; but I am sure it is so. and then she told me something.'
'What did she tell you?'
'Has there ever been reason to think that you intended to offer your hand to Lady Mabel Grex?'
'Did she tell you so?'
'You should answer my question, Lord Silverbridge. It is surely one which I have a right to ask.' Then she stood waiting for his reply, keeping herself at some little distance from him as though she were afraid that he would fly upon her. And indeed there seemed to be cause for such fear from frequent gestures of his hands. 'Why do you not answer me? Has there been some reason for such expectations?'
'Yes;--there has.'
'There has!'
'I thought of it,--not knowing myself before I had seen you. You shall know it all if you will only say that you love me.'
'I should like to know it first.'
'You do know it all;--almost. I have told you that she knows what I said to you at Killancodlem. Is not that enough?'
'And she approves!'
'What has it to do with her? Lady Mabel is my friend, but not my guardian.'
'Has she a right to expect that she should be your wife?'
'No;--certainly not. Why should you ask all this? Do you love me?
Come, Isabel; say that you love me. Will you call me vain if I say that I almost think you do. You cannot doubt my love;--not now.'
'No;--not now.'
'You needn't. Why won't you be as honest to me? If you hate me, say so;--but if you love me-!'
'I do not hate you, Lord Silverbridge.'
'And is that all?'
'You asked me the question.'
'But you do love me? By George, I thought you would be more honest and straightforward.'
Then she dropped her badinage and answered him seriously. 'I thought I had been more honest and straightforward. When I found that you were in earnest at Killancodlem--'
'Why did you ever doubt me?'
'When I felt that you were in earnest, then I had to be in earnest too. And I thought so much about it that I lay awake nearly all that night. Shall I tell you what I thought?'
'Tell me something I would like to hear.'