"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

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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.




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