Had Crosbie been right in those remarks of his?  Had she been imprudent in her little endeavour to be cordially kind to her old friend?  “Shall we go into the drawing-room?” she said, feeling that she would be in some degree safer there than out among the shrubs and paths of the garden.  And I think she was right in this.  A man will talk of love out among the lilacs and roses, who would be stricken dumb by the demure propriety of the four walls of a drawing-room.  John Eames also had some feeling of this kind, for he determined to remain out in the garden, if he could so manage it.

“I don’t want to go in unless you wish it,” he said.  “Indeed, I’d rather stay here.  So, Lily, you’re going to be married?” And thus he rushed at once into the middle of his discourse.

“Yes,” said she, “I believe I am.”

“I have not told you yet that I congratulate you.”

“I have known very well that you did so in your heart.  I have always been sure that you wished me well.”

“Indeed I have.  And if congratulating a person is hoping that she may always be happy, I do congratulate you.  But, Lily—­” And then he paused, abashed by the beauty, purity, and woman’s grace which had forced him to love her.

“I think I understand all that you would say.  I do not want ordinary words to tell me that I am to count you among my best friends.”

“No, Lily; you don’t understand all that I would say.  You have never known how often and how much I have thought of you; how dearly I have loved you.”

“John, you must not talk of that now.”

“I cannot go without telling you.  When I came over here, and Mrs Dale told me that you were to be married to that man—­”

“You must not speak of Mr Crosbie in that way,” she said, turning upon him almost fiercely.

“I did not mean to say anything disrespectful of him to you.  I should hate myself if I were to do so.  Of course you like him better than anybody else?”

“I love him better than all the world besides.”

“And so do I love you better than all the world besides.”  And as he spoke he got up from his seat and stood before her.  “I know how poor I am, and unworthy of you; and only that you are engaged to him, I don’t suppose that I should now tell you.  Of course you couldn’t accept such a one as me.  But I have loved you ever since you remember; and now that you are going to be his wife, I cannot but tell you that it is so.  You will go and live in London; but as to my seeing you there, it will be impossible.  I could not go into that man’s house.”

“Oh, John.”

“No, never; not if you become his wife.  I have loved you as well as he does.  When Mrs Dale told me of it, I thought I should have fallen.  I went away without seeing you because I was unable to speak to you.  I made a fool of myself, and have been a fool all along.  I am foolish now to tell you this, but I cannot help it.”