"I am very much concerned," he repeated, feeling sympathy safer than
reasoning. "If I could have guessed his intentions, I would have tried
to spare you this; at least the suddenness of it. I could not have
guessed at such presumptuous expectations on so short an acquaintance."
"He did not expect me to answer at once," said Fanny. "He said he only
meant to let me know his hopes in coming here. And, oh, that's the worst
of it! He won't believe me, though I said more to him than I thought
I could have said to anybody! I told him," said Fanny, with her hands
clasped over her knee to still her trembling, "that I cared for my
dear, dear husband, and always shall--always--and then he talked about
waiting, just as if anybody could leave off loving one's husband! And
then when he wanted me to consider about my children, why then I told
him"--and her voice grew passionate again--"the more I considered, the
worse it would be for him, as if I would have my boys know me without
their father's name; and, besides, he had not been so kind to you that
I should wish to let him have anything to do with them! I am afraid I
ought not to have said that," she added, returning to something of her
meek softness; "but indeed I was so angry, I did not know what I was
about. I hope it will not make him angry with you."
"Never mind me," said Colonel Keith, kindly. "Indeed, Lady Temple, it
is a wonderful compliment to you that he should have been ready to
undertake such a family."
"I don't want such compliments! And, oh!" and here her eyes widened with
fright, "what shall I do? He only said my feelings did me honour, and he
would be patient and convince me. Oh, Colonel Keith, what shall I do?"
and she looked almost afraid that fate and perseverance would master her
after all, and that she should be married against her will.
"You need do nothing but go on your own way, and persist in your
refusal," he said in the calm voice that always reassured her.
"Oh, but pray, pray never let him speak to me about it again!"
"Not if I can help it, and I will do my best. You are quite right, Lady
Temple. I do not think it would be at all advisable for yourself or
the children, and hardly for himself," he added, smiling. "I think the
mischief must all have been done by that game at whist."
"Then I'll never play again in my life! I only thought he was an old
man that wanted amusing--." Then as one of the children peeped in at the
window, and was called back--"O dear! how shall I ever look at Conrade
again, now any one has thought I could forget his father?"