‘I think I do.’

‘You know I love you.’

’I think you do.  I am sure I hope you do.  If you don’t, then I am,—­a miserable wretch.’

‘With all my heart I do.’

‘Then I am as proud as a queen.  You will tell him soon.’

’As soon as you are gone.  As soon as we are alone together.  I will;—­and then I will follow you to London.  Now shall we not say, Good-bye?’

‘Good-bye, my own,’ she whispered.

‘You will let me have one kiss.’

Her hand was in his, and she looked as though to see that no eyes were watching them.  But then, as thoughts came rushing to her mind, she changed her purpose.  ‘No,’ she said.  ’What is it but a trifle!  It is nothing in itself.  But I have bound myself to myself by certain promises, and you must not ask me to break them.  You are as sweet to me as I can be to you, but there shall be no kissing till I know that I shall be your wife.  Now take me back.’

CHAPTER 54

I Don’t Think She is a Snake

On the following day, Tuesday, the Boncassens went, and then there were none of the guests left but Mrs Finn and Lady Mabel Grex,—­ with of course Miss Cassewary.  The Duke had especially asked both Mrs Finn and Lady Mabel to remain, the former, through his anxiety to show his repentance for the injustice he had formerly done her, and the latter in the hope that something might be settled as soon as the crowd of visitors should have gone.  He had so spoken as to make Lady Mabel quite aware of his wish.  He would not have told her how sure he was that Silverbridge would keep no more racehorses, how he trusted that Silverbridge had done with betting, how he believed that the young member would take a real interest in the House of Commons, had he not intended that she should take a special interest in the young man.  And then he had spoken about the house in London.  It was to be made over to Silverbridge as soon as Silverbridge should marry.  And then there was Gatherum Castle.  Gatherum was rather a trouble than otherwise.  He had ever felt it to be so, but had nevertheless always kept it open perhaps for a month in the year.  His uncle had always resided there for a fortnight at Christmas.  When Silverbridge was married it would become the young man’s duty to do something of the same kind.  Gatherum was the White Elephant of the family, and Silverbridge must enter it upon his share of the trouble.  He did not know that in saying all this he was offering his son as a husband to Lady Mabel, but she understood it as thoroughly as though he had spoken the words.