But
marriage did not occur to him, and he was evidently quite
prepared to hear that she could no longer regard this money as
her own to be freely disposed of. This was on one side a relief
but on the other it confirmed her fears. She would rather have
heard him plead with her to neglect her parents for the sake of
being his wife. Love excuses everything, and his selfishness
would have been easily lost sight of in the assurance that he
still desired her.
'You say,' she replied, with bent head, 'that it would bring us
fifty pounds a year. If another fifty were added to that, my
father and mother would be supported in case the worst comes. I
might earn fifty pounds.'
'You wish me to understand, Marian, that I mustn't expect that
you will bring me anything when we are married.'
His tone was that of acquiescence; not by any means of
displeasure. He spoke as if desirous of saying for her something
she found a difficulty in saying for herself.
'Jasper, it is so hard for me! So hard for me! How could I help
remembering what you told me when I promised to be your wife?'
'I spoke the truth rather brutally,' he replied, in a kind voice.
Pages:
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855