"I only wanted to tell you," he went on, "that my people are very
anxious that you should say 'yes.' Both my father and mother are very
fond of you--I think you know that and--" he stammered a little here
for the first time--"and--well, there are the estates. You won't mind
my saying that both you and I have to think of them; they belong to us
and we belong to them, and--if we were married--But I don't lay much
stress upon the estates being so close. I'd come and ask you to marry
me if I were as poor as a church mouse or you hadn't a penny. It just
comes to this: that I love you with all my heart and soul, that if
you'll marry me I shall be the happiest man, and my people the proudest
people, in England."
There was a warm flush on his handsome face, an eager look in his
bright eyes, and he had pleaded his cause very well, in an outspoken,
manly way, which never fails to appeal to a woman. Ida was moved; the
crop nearly snapped in her hands, and her eyes grew moist. He saw it,
and tried to take her hand, but she, though she did not move, shook her
head very gently but very resolutely.
"No," she said, in a low voice, "I--I want to tell you, Lord Edwin, how
proud I am at the honour you have paid me. Like yourself, I am not good
at expressing my feelings--though, indeed, I think you have done
yourself an injustice: you have spoken, told me very well--and I am
very grateful. I wish I could say 'yes.'"
"Ah, say it!" he implored her, eagerly.
She shook her head again, and lifting her eyes and looking at him
straightly but sadly, she said in a still lower voice: "Lord Edwin, I do not love you."
"I never said, thought, you did," he responded, promptly. "Why, you've
only known me such a short time, and I'm not such a conceited bounder
to think that you've fallen in love with me already. I only want you to
let me try and win your love; and--I think I shall do so," he said in a
modest but manly way, which would at once have won Ida's heart--if it
had not been won already. "If you will only give me some hope, just
tell me that I've a chance, that you'll let me, try--"
Ida smiled a sad little smile.