'For myself.' he said, putting out his hand and making a slight vain effort to get hold of hers, 'I have only one wish in the world; and that is, to travel the same road with you. I do not say that you ought to wish it too; but you ought to know that I am sincere. When I spoke of the Melmottes did you believe that I was thinking of myself?'
'Oh no;--how should I?'
'I was speaking to you then as to a cousin who might regard me as an elder brother. No contact with legions of Melmottes could make you other to me than the woman on whom my heart has settled. Even were you in truth disgraced could disgrace touch one so pure as you it would be the same. I love you so well that I have already taken you for better or for worse. I cannot change. My nature is too stubborn for such changes. Have you a word to say to comfort me?' She turned away her head, but did not answer him at once. 'Do you understand how much I am in need of comfort?'
'You can do very well without comfort from me.'
'No, indeed. I shall live, no doubt; but I shall not do very well. As it is, I am not doing at all well. I am becoming sour and moody, and ill at ease with my friends. I would have you believe me, at any rate, when I say I love you.'
'I suppose you mean something.'
'I mean a great deal, dear. I mean all that a man can mean. That is it. You hardly understand that I am serious to the extent of ecstatic joy on the one side, and utter indifference to the world on the other. I shall never give it up till I learn that you are to be married to some one else.'
'What can I say, Mr Carbury?'
'That you will love me.'
'But if I don't?'
'Say that you will try.'
'No; I will not say that. Love should come without a struggle. I don't know how one person is to try to love another in that way. I like you very much; but being married is such a terrible thing.'
'It would not be terrible to me, dear.'
'Yes;--when you found that I was too young for your tastes.'
'I shall persevere, you know. Will you assure me of this,--that if you promise your hand to another man you will let me know at once?'