"You are not angry?"
"Yes, I am--at your thinking I loved you so little as to be biased
against our marriage because of money troubles. Pooh!" she flicked away
a speck of dust from his coat, "I don't care that for such things."
"You are an angel," he cried ardently.
"I am a very practical girl just now," she retorted. "Go on, confess!"
Archie, thus encouraged, did so, and it was a very mild confession that
she heard, involving a great deal of unnecessary sacrifice in helping
a pauper uncle. Hope strove to belittle his good deeds as much as
possible, but Lucy saw plainly the good heart that had dictated the
giving up of his small income for some years. When in possession of all
the facts, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"You are a silly old boy," she whispered. "As if what you tell me could
make any difference to me!"
"But we can't be married for six months, dearest."
"Of course not. Do you believe that I as a woman can gather together my
trousseau under six months? No, my dear. We must not marry in haste to
repent at leisure. In another half year you will enjoy your own income,
and then we can marry."
"But meanwhile," said Archie, after kissing her, "the Professor will
bother you to marry Random."
"Oh no. He has sold me to you for one thousand pounds. There! There, do
not say a single word. I am only teasing you. Let us say that my father
has consented to my marriage with you, and cannot withdraw his word. Not
that I care if he does. I am my own mistress."
"Lucy!"--he took her hands again and looked into her eyes--"Braddock
is a scientific lunatic, and would do anything to forward his aims
with regard to this very expensive tomb, which he has set his heart on
discovering. As I can't lend or give the money, he is sure to apply to
Random, and Random--"
"Will want to marry me," cried Lucy, rising. "No, my dear, not at all.
Sir Frank is a gentleman, and when he learns that I am engaged to you,
he will simply become a dear friend. There, don't worry any more about
the matter. You ought to have told me of your troubles before, but as
I have forgiven you, there is no more to be said. In six months I
shall become Mrs. Hope, and meanwhile I can hold my own against any
inconvenience that my father may cause me."
"But--" He rose and began to remonstrate, anxious to abase himself still
further before this angel of a maiden.
She placed her hand over his mouth. "Not another word, or I shall box
your ears, sir--that is, I shall exercise the privilege of a wife before
I become one. And now," she slipped her arm within his, "let us go in
and see the arrival of the precious mummy."