‘Poor papa,’ said Grace.

’I have felt that at the present moment I could not do so with any success.  It has not come of any want of respect either for him or for you.  Of course, Grace, you know why I am here.’  He paused, and then, remembering that he had no right to expect an answer to such a question, he continued, ’I have come here, dearest Grace, to ask you to be my wife, and to be a mother to Edith.  I know that you love Edith.’

‘I do indeed.’

’And I have hoped sometimes—­though I suppose I ought not to say so—­but I have hoped and almost thought sometimes, that you have been willing to—­love me, too.  It is better to tell the truth simply, is it not?’

‘I suppose so,’ said Grace.

’And therefore, and because I love you dearly myself, I have come to ask you to be my wife.’  Saying which he opened out his hand, and held it to her.  But she did not take it.  ’There is my hand, Grace.  If your heart is as I would have it you can give me yours, and I shall want nothing else to make me happy.’  But still she made no motion towards granting him his request.  ‘If I have been too sudden,’ he said, ’you must forgive me for that.  I have been sudden and abrupt, but as things are, no other way has been open to me.  Can you not bring yourself to give me some answer, Grace?’ His hand had now fallen again to his side, but he was still standing before her.

She had said no word to him as yet, except that one in which she had acknowledged her love for his child, and had expressed no surprise, even in her countenance, at his proposal.  And yet the idea that he should do such a thing, since the idea that he certainly would do it had become clear to her, had filled her with a world of surprise.  No girl ever lived with any beauty belonging to her who had a smaller knowledge of her own possession than Grace Crawley.  Nor had she the slightest pride in her own acquirements.  That she had been taught in many things more than had been taught to other girls, had come of her poverty and of the desolation of her home.  She had learned to read Greek and Italian because there had been nothing else for her to do in that sad house.  And, subsequently, accuracy of knowledge had been necessary for the earning of her bread.  I think that Grace had at times been weak enough to envy the idleness and almost envy the ignorance of other girls.  Her figure was light, perfect in symmetry, full of grace at all points; but she had thought nothing of her figure, remembering only the poverty of her dress, but remembering also with a brave resolution that she would never be ashamed of it.  And as her acquaintance with Major Grantly had begun and had grown, and as she had learned to feel unconsciously that his company was pleasanter to her than that of any other person she knew, she had still told herself that anything like love must be out of the question.  But then words had been spoken, and there had been glances in his eye, and