'O Nic! how could you do this--and without telling me!' 'Why should I have thought I must tell you?
You had not spoken "frankly" then as you have now.

We have been all to each other more than these two years, and I thought I would propose that we marry privately, and that I then leave you on the instant.

I would have taken my travelling-bag to church, and you would have gone home alone.

I should not have started on my adventures in the brilliant manner of our original plan, but should have roughed it a little at first; my great gain would have been that the absolute possession of you would have enabled me to work with spirit and purpose, such as nothing else could do.

But I dare not ask you now--so frank as you have been.' She did not answer.