“I don’t quite understand, Bernard,” she said, after a minute’s pause.

“Shall we be more than cousins?  Shall we be man and wife?”

Now, at least, she could not say that she did not understand.  If the question was ever asked plainly, Bernard Dale had asked it plainly.  Shall we be man and wife?  Few men, I fancy, dare to put it all at once in so abrupt a way, and yet I do not know that the English language affords any better terms for the question.

“Oh, Bernard! you have surprised me.”

“I hope I have not pained you, Bell.  I have been long thinking of this, but I am well aware that my own manner, even to you, has not been that of a lover.  It is not in me to smile and say soft things, as Crosbie can.  But I do not love you the less on that account.  I have looked about for a wife, and I have thought that if I could gain you I should be very fortunate.”

He did not then say anything about his uncle, and the eight hundred a year; but he fully intended to do so as soon as an opportunity should serve.  He was quite of opinion that eight hundred a year and the good-will of a rich uncle were strong ground for matrimony,—­were grounds even for love; and he did not doubt but his cousin would see the matter in the same light.

“You are very good to me—­more than good.  Of course I know that.  But, oh, Bernard I did not expect this a bit.”

“But you will answer me, Bell!  Or if you would like time to think, or to speak to my aunt, perhaps you will answer me to-morrow?”

“I think I ought to answer you now.”

“Not if it be a refusal, Bell.  Think well of it before you do that.  I should have told you that our uncle wishes this match, and that he will remove any difficulty there might be about money.”

“I do not care for money.”

“But, as you were saying about Lily, one has to be prudent.  Now, in our marriage, everything of that kind would be well arranged.  My uncle has promised me that he would at once allow us—­”

“Stop, Bernard.  You must not be led to suppose that any offer made by my uncle would help to purchase—­ Indeed, there can be no need for us to talk about money.”

“I wished to let you know the facts of the case, exactly as they are.  And as to our uncle, I cannot but think that you would be glad, in such a matter, to have him on your side.”

“Yes, I should be glad to have him on my side; that is, if I were going—­ But my uncle’s wishes could not influence my decision.  The fact is, Bernard—­”

“Well, dearest, what is the fact?”

“I have always regarded you rather as a brother than as anything else.”

“But that regard may be changed.”

“No; I think not.  Bernard, I will go further and speak on at once.  It cannot be changed.  I know myself well enough to say that with certainty.  It cannot be changed.”

“You mean that you cannot love me?”