He stooped close to her, and even then she noted how laboured was his breathing, and that his mouth quivered: 

“Answer me; do you mean to marry him?”

“I do, if mother gives me permission.”

Bravely she met his eyes, but her words were a mere whisper, and she felt that the worst was over; for her there could be no retraction.

It was the keenest blow, the most bitter disappointment of Erle Palma’s hitherto successful life, but his face hardened, and he bore it, as was his habit, without any demonstration, save that discoverable in his mortal paleness.

During the brief silence that ensued, he still held his hand firmly on hers, and when he spoke his tone was cold and stern.

“My opinion of your probable course in this matter was founded entirely upon belief in the truthfulness of your statement that Mr. Lindsay had no claim on your heart.  Only a short time since you assured me of this fact, and my faith in your candour must plead pardon for my present profound surprise.  Certainly I was credulous enough to consider you incapable of deceit.”

The scorn in his eyes stung her like a lash, and clasping her fingers spasmodically around his hand, she exclaimed: 

“I never intended to deceive you.  Oh, do not despise me!”

“I presume you understand the meaning of the words you employ; and when I asked you if I would be justified in softening your rejection of my cousin by assuring him that your affections were already engaged you emphatically negatived that statement, saying it would be untrue.”

“Yes, and I thought so then; but did not know my own heart.”

Her shadowy eyes looked appealingly into his, but he smiled contemptuously.

“You did not know your affections had travelled to India, until the gentleman formally asked for them?  Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Believe anything except that I wilfully deceived you.”

The anguish, the hopelessness written in her blanched face, and the trembling of the childishly small hands that had unconsciously tightened around his touched him.

He put his right hand under her chin and lifted the face.

“Lily, I want the truth.  I intend to have it; and all of it.  Now look me in the eye and answer me solemnly, remembering that the God you reverence hears your words.  Do you really love Mr. Lindsay?”

“Yes; he is so good, how can I help feeling attached to him?”

“You love him next to your mother?”

“I think I do.”

The words cost her a great effort, and her eyes wandered from his.

“Look straight at me.  You love him so well you wish to be his wife?”

“I want to make him happy if I can.”

“No evasions, if you please.  Answer yes, or no.  Is Mr. Lindsay dearer to you than all else in the world?”

“Next to mother’s his happiness is dearest to me.”