'If so, I am sorry for the young lady,' said Mrs Finn.
'Don't you think that one always has to be sorry for the young ladies? Young ladies generally have a bad time of it. Did you ever hear of a gentleman who always had to roll a stone to the top of a hill, but it would always come back on him?'
'That gentleman I believe never succeeded,' said Mrs Finn. 'The young ladies sometimes do, I suppose.'
In the meantime Isabel and Silverbridge were among the ruins together. 'This is where the old Pallisers used to be buried,' he said.
'Oh, indeed. And married, I suppose.'
'I daresay. They had a priest of their own, no doubt, which must have been convenient. This block of a fellow without any legs is supposed to represent Sir Guy. He ran away with half-a-dozen heiresses, they say. I wish things were as easily done now.'
'Nobody should have to run away with me. I have no idea of going on such a journey except on terms of equality,--just step and step alike.' Then she took hold of his arm and put out one foot. 'Are you ready?'
'I am very willing.'
'But are you ready,--for a straightforward walk off to the church before all the world? None of your private chaplains, such as Sir Guy had at his command. Just the registrar, if there is nothing better,--so that it be public before all the world.'
'I wish we could start this instant.'
'But we can't,--can we?'
'No, dear. So many things have to be settled.'
'And what have you settled on since you last spoke to me?'
'I have told your father everything.'
'Yes;--I know that. What good does that do? Father is not a Duke of Omnium. No one supposed that he would object.'
'But he did,' said Silverbridge.
'Yes;--as I do,--for the same reason; because he would not have his daughter creep in at a hole. But to your own father you have not ventured to speak.' Then he told his story, as best he knew how.
It was not that he feared his father, but that he felt that the present moment was not fit. 'He wishes you to marry that Lady Mabel Grex,' she said. He nodded his head. 'And you will marry her?'
'Never! I might have done so, had I not seen you. I should have done so, if she had been willing. But now I never can,--never, never.' Her hand had dropped from his arm, but now she put it up again for a moment, so that he might feel the pressure of her fingers. 'Say that you believe me.'
'I think I do.'
'You know I love you.'
'I think you do. I am sure I hope you do. If you don't, then I am,--a miserable wretch.'
'With all my heart I do.'
'Then I am as proud as a queen. You will tell him soon.'
'As soon as you are gone. As soon as we are alone together. I will;--and then I will follow you to London. Now shall we not say, Good-bye?'
'Good-bye, my own,' she whispered.
'You will let me have one kiss.'
Her hand was in his, and she looked as though to see that no eyes were watching them. But then, as thoughts came rushing to her mind, she changed her purpose. 'No,' she said. 'What is it but a trifle! It is nothing in itself. But I have bound myself to myself by certain promises, and you must not ask me to break them.
You are as sweet to me as I can be to you, but there shall be no kissing till I know that I shall be your wife. Now take me back.'