He could only press his arm tightly round her waist, and be
silent. 'It cannot be altered now, papa. Look at me. Tell me that
you love me.'
'Have you doubted my love?'
'No, papa,--but I would do anything to make you happy; anything
that I could do. Papa, you do not want me to marry Lord
Popplecourt?'
'I would not have you marry any man without loving him.'
'I never can love anybody else. That is what I wanted you to know,
papa.'
To this he made no reply, nor was there anything else said upon
the subject before the carriage drove up to the railway station.
'Do not get out, dear,' he said, seeing that her eyes had been
filled with tears. 'It is not worth while. God bless you my child!
You will be up in London I hope in a fortnight, and we must try
to make the house a little less dull for you.'
And so he encountered the third attack.
Lady Mary, as she was driven home, recovered her spirits
wonderfully. Not a word had fallen from her father which she could
use hereafter as a refuge from her embarrassments. He had made her
no promise.
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