To tell him that she did not love him was impossible to her.  But how was she to refuse him without telling him either a lie, or the truth?  Some answer she must give him; and as to that matter of marrying him, the answer must be a negative.  Her education had been of that nature which teaches girls to believe that it is a crime to marry a man without an assured income.  Assured morality in a husband is a great thing.  Assured good temper is very excellent.  Assured talent, religion, amiability, truth, honesty, are all desirable.  But an assured income is indispensable.  Whereas, in truth, the income may come hereafter; but the other things, unless they be there already, will hardly be forthcoming.  ‘Mr Stanbury,’ she said, ’your suddenness has quite astounded me.’

’Ah, yes; but how should I not be sudden?  I have come here on purpose to say this to you.  If I do not say it now—­’

‘You heard what Emily said.’

‘No, what did she say?’

’She said that it would not be for good that you should speak to me thus.’

‘Why not for good?  But she is unhappy, and looks gloomily at things.’

‘Yes, indeed.’

’But all the world need not be sad for ever because she has been unfortunate.’

’Not all the world, Mr Stanbury, but you must not be surprised if it affects me.’

’But would that prevent your loving me if you did love me?  But, Nora, I do not expect you to love me not yet.  I do not say that I expect it ever.  But if you would—.  Nora, I can do no more than tell you the simple truth.  Just listen to me for a minute.  You know how I came to be intimate with you all in Curzon Street.  The first day I saw you I loved you; and there has come no change yet.  It is months now since I first knew that I loved you.  Well; I told myself more than once when I was down at Nuncombe for instance that I had no right to speak to you.  What right can a poor devil like me have, who lives from hand to mouth, to ask such a girl as you to be his wife?  And so I said nothing though it was on my lips every moment that I was there.’  Nora remembered at the moment how she had looked to his lips, and had not seen the words there.  ’But I think there is something unmanly in this.  If you cannot give me a grain of hope, if you tell me that there never can be hope, it is my misfortune.  It will be very grievous, but I will bear it.  But that will be better than puling and moping about without daring to tell my tale.  I am not ashamed of it.  I have fallen in love with you, Nora, and I think it best to come for an answer.’

He held out his arms as though he thought that she might perhaps come to him.  Indeed he had no idea of any such coming on her part; but she, as she looked at him, almost thought that it was her duty to go.  Had she a right to withhold herself from him, she who loved him so dearly?  Had he stepped forward and taken her in his arms, it might be that all power of refusal would soon have been beyond her power.