Some men more experienced in the world, less mastered by love than I was, would, in my position, have recognised this proposal an unfair trial of self-restraint—­perhaps, something like an unfair humiliation as well.  Others have detected the selfish motives which suggested it:  the mean distrust of my honour, integrity, and firmness of purpose which it implied; and the equally mean anxiety on Sherwin’s part to clench his profitable bargain at once, for fear it might be repented of.  I discerned nothing of this.  As soon as I had recovered from the natural astonishment of the first few moments, I only saw in the strange plan proposed to me, a certainty of assuring—­no matter with what sacrifice, what hazard, or what delay—­the ultimate triumph of my love.  When Mr. Sherwin had ceased speaking, I replied at once: 

“I accept your conditions—­I accept them with all my heart.”

He was hardly prepared for so complete and so sudden an acquiescence in his proposal, and looked absolutely startled by it, at first.  But soon resuming his self-possession—­his wily, “business-like” self-possession—­he started up, and shook me vehemently by the hand.

“Delighted—­most delighted, my dear Sir, to find how soon we understand each other, and that we pull together so well.  We must have another glass; hang it, we really must! a toast, you know; a toast you can’t help drinking—­your wife!  Ha! ha!—­I had you there!—­my dear, dear Margaret, God bless her!”

“We may consider all difficulties finally settled then,” I said, anxious to close my interview with Mr. Sherwin as speedily as possible.

“Decidedly so.  Done, and double done, I may say.  There will be a little insurance on your life, that I shall ask you to effect for dear Margaret’s sake; and perhaps, a memorandum of agreement, engaging to settle a certain proportion of any property you may become possessed of, on her and her children.  You see I am looking forward to my grandfather days already!  But this can wait for a future occasion—­say in a day or two.”

“Then I presume there will be no objection to my seeing Miss Sherwin now?”

“None whatever—–­at once, if you like.  This way, my dear Sir; this way,” and he led me across the passage, into the dining-room.

This apartment was furnished with less luxury, but with more bad taste (if possible) than the room we had just left.  Near the window sat Margaret—­it was the same window at which I had seen her, on the evening when I wandered into the square, after our meeting in the omnibus.  The cage with the canary-bird hung in the same place.  I just noticed—­with a momentary surprise—­that Mrs. Sherwin was sitting far away from her daughter, at the other end of the room; and then placed myself by Margaret’s side.  She was dressed in pale yellow—­a colour which gave new splendour to her dark complexion and magnificently dark hair.  Once more, all my doubts, all my self-upbraidings vanished, and gave place to the exquisite sense of happiness, the glow of joy and hope and love which seemed to rush over my heart, the moment I looked at her.