'Oh, of course money is nothing! We write for honour and glory.
Don't forget to insist on that when you reprove Mr Whelpdale; no
doubt it will impress him.'
Late in the evening of that day, when the brother and sister had
strolled by moonlight up to the windmill which occupies the
highest point of Sark, and as they stood looking upon the pale
expanse of sea, dotted with the gleam of light-houses near and
far, Dora broke the silence to say quietly:
'I may as well tell you that Mr Whelpdale wants to know if I will
marry him.'
'The deuce he does!' cried Jasper, with a start. 'If I didn't
half suspect something of that kind! What astounding impudence!'
'You seriously think so?'
'Well, don't you? You hardly know him, to begin with. And then--
oh, confound it!'
'Very well, I'll tell him that his impudence astonishes me.'
'You will?'
'Certainly. Of course in civil terms. But don't let this make any
difference between you and him. Just pretend to know nothing
about it; no harm is done.'
'You are speaking in earnest?'
'Quite. He has written in a very proper way, and there's no
reason whatever to disturb our friendliness with him.
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