But she still kept her eyes on her book.

Ovid knew that she was offering him his first and last chance of speaking plainly, before he went away.

In Carmina's interests he spoke.
"Mother," he said, "I am leaving the one person in the world who is most precious to me, under your care." "Do you mean," Mrs.Gallilee asked, "that you and Carmina are engaged to be married ?" "I mean that; and I am not sure that you approve of the engagement.

Will you be plainer with me than you were on the last occasion when we spoke on this subject ?" "When was that ?" Mrs.Gallilee inquired.
"When you and I were alone for a few minutes, on the morning when I breakfasted here.

You said it was quite natural that Carmina should have attracted me; but you were careful not to encourage the idea of a marriage between us.