Asked the child to marry you! Why, Sir Edgar, how long have you been in love with her ?" "From the very first moment I ever saw her." "Why," cried her ladyship, "Sir John told me you were in love, and had promised to confide in him." Remembering what I had said to him, I explained to her that in speaking as I had done I referred entirely to Agatha.
"It is so utterly unexpected," she said, "that you must pardon my strange reception of your intelligence." She sat quite silent for some minutes, then continued: "It seems so strange for you to fall in love with Agatha.

The dearest wish of Sir Barnard's heart was to have her for a daughter-in-law." A fierce spasm of jealousy almost robbed me of my breath.
"Did she--did she--" Then I could get no further.
"No, Agatha did not like Miles, if that is what you mean ?" "Did Miles love her ?" "I cannot tell--there was something very mysterious about him.

He looked to me like one who had a secret on his mind.

I have often wondered what it could be.

He was not a happy man of late years." "You have not told me yet, Lady Thesiger, if I have your good wishes." She held out her hand with a gracious, kindly smile.
"Shall I tell you the truth--no flattery, but just the simple truth?
I would rather Agatha married you than any other man in the nation.