‘No, indeed.’

’Do not think ill of me if you can help it, because you are almost the only friend that I trust.  I almost trust dear old Cass, but not quite.  She is old-fashioned and I shock her.  As for other women, there isn’t one anywhere to whom I would say a word.  Only think how a girl such as I am is placed; or indeed any girl.  You, if you see a woman that you fancy, can pursue her, can win her and triumph, or lose her and gnaw your heart;—­at any rate you can do something.  You can tell her that you love her; can tell her so again and again even though she should scorn you.  You can set yourself about the business you have taken in hand and can work hard at it.  What can a girl do?’

‘Girls work hard sometimes.’

’Of course they do;—­but everybody feels that they are sinning against their sex.  Of love, such as a man’s is, a woman ought to know nothing.  How can she love with passion when she should never give her love till it has been asked, and not then unless her friends tell her that the thing is suitable?  Love such as that to me is out of the question.  But, as it is fit that I should be married, I wish to be married well.’

‘And you will love him after a fashion?’

’Yes;—­after a very sterling fashion.  I will make his wishes my wishes, his ways my ways, his party my party, his home my home, his ambition my ambition,—­his honour my honour.’  As she said this she stood up with her hands clenched and head erect, and her eyes flashing.  ’Do you not know me well enough to be sure that I should be loyal to him?’

‘Yes;—­I think that you would be loyal.’

‘Whether I loved him or not, he should love me.’

‘And you think that Silverbridge would do?’

’Yes.  I think that Silverbridge would do.  You, no doubt, will say that I am flying high.’

’Not too high.  Why should you not fly high?  If I can justify myself, surely I cannot accuse you.’

’It is hardly the same thing, Frank.  Of course there is not a girl in London to whom Lord Silverbridge would not be the best match that she could make.  He has the choice of us all.’

‘Most girls would think twice before refusing him.’

’Very few would think twice before accepting him.  Perhaps he wishes to add to his wealth by marrying richly,—­as his father did.’

’No thought on that subject would ever trouble him.  That will be all as it happens.  As soon as he takes sufficient fancy to a girl he will ask her straight off.  I do not say that he might not change afterwards, but he would mean it at the time.’

’If he had once said the word to me, he should not change.  But then what right have I to expect it?  What has he ever said about me?’

‘Very little.  But had he said much I should not tell you.’

’You are my friend,—­but you are his too; and he, perhaps, is more to you than I am.  As his friend it may be your duty to tell him all that I am saying.  If so, I have been wrong.’