am I not to talk about it? I
am going home to-morrow, and I mean to talk about nothing else for a
week. I am so very, very, very glad that you have saved your cousin."
Then she did put up her handkerchief, making believe that her tears
had been due to Mr. Crawley. But John Eames knew better than that.

"Lily," he said, "I've come for the last time. It sounds as though I
meant to threaten you; but you won't take it in that way. I think you
will know what I mean. I have come for the last time--to ask you to
be my wife." She got up to greet him when he entered, and they were
both still standing. She did not answer him at once, but turning
away from him walked towards the window. "You knew why I was coming
to-day, Lily?"

"Mrs. Arabin told me. I could not be away when you were coming, but
perhaps it would have been better."

"It is so? Must it be so? Must you say that to me, Lily? Think of it
for a moment, dear."

"I have thought about it."

"One word from you, yes or no, spoken now is to be everything to me
for always. Lily, cannot you say yes?" She did not answer him, but
walked further away from him to another window. "Try to say yes. Look
round at me with one look that may only half mean it; that may tell
me that it shall not positively be no for ever." I think that she
almost tried to turn her face to him; but be that as it may, she kept
her eyes steadily fixed upon the window-pane. "Lily," he said, "it is
not that you are hard-hearted,--perhaps not altogether that you do
not like me. I think that you believe things against me that are not
true." As she heard this she moved her foot angrily upon the carpet.
She had almost forgotten M. D., but now he had reminded her of the
note. She assured herself that she had never believed anything
against him except on evidence that was incontrovertible. But she
was not going to speak to him on such a matter as that! It would not
become her to accuse him. "Mrs. Arabin tells me that you doubt whether
I am in earnest," he said.

Upon hearing this she flashed round upon him almost angrily. "I never
said that."

"If you will ask me for any token of earnestness, I will give it to
you."

"I want no token."

"The best sign of earnestness a man can give generally in such a
matter, is to show how ready he is to be married."

"I never said anything about earnestness."

"At the risk of making you angry I will go on, Lily. Of course when
you tell me that you will have nothing