But the words came to her first.

"I wonder what he thinks of me." Whereupon Tregear only smiled.

"I suppose he has spoken to you about me ?" "Why do you ask ?" "Why!" "And why should I tell you?
Suppose he should have said to me in the confidence of friendship that he thinks you ugly and stupid." "I am sure he has not said that.

He has eyes to see and ears to hear.
But, though I am neither ugly nor stupid, he needn't like me." "Do you want him to like you ?" "Yes, I do.

Oh yes; you may laugh; but if I did not think that I could be a good wife to him I would not take his hand even to become Duchess of Omnium." "Do you mean that you love him, Mabel ?" "No; I do not mean that.