'
'You are thinking of Walter Scott, and that kind of thing'--
Jasper laughed. 'Oh, that's quite unbusinesslike; it would be
setting a pernicious example nowadays. Well, and what's to be
done?'
Marian had no answer for such a question. The tone of it was a
new stab to her heart, which had suffered so many during the past
half-year.
'Now, I'll ask you frankly,' Jasper went on, 'and I know you will
reply in the same spirit: would it be wise for us to marry on
this money?'
'On this money?'
She looked into his face with painful earnestness.
'You mean,' he said, 'that it can't be spared for that purpose?'
What she really meant was uncertain even to herself. She had
wished to hear how Jasper would receive the news, and thereby to
direct her own course. Had he welcomed it as offering a
possibility of their marriage, that would have gladdened her,
though it would then have been necessary to show him all the
difficulties by which she was beset; for some time they had not
spoken of her father's position, and Jasper seemed willing to
forget all about that complication of their troubles.
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