suppose, has a curious effect, and I cannot explain it to you. There
are certain things which are very real, and very plain,--others are
obscure. For example, I speak German perfectly; but until I read it a
few months ago, I knew nothing of German history. Forgive me for
saying that,--it has nothing to do with what I want to tell you, and
yet perhaps it has. Anyhow, it makes plain certain things I do and
say. You are going to be my wife----'

'Really, Mr. Edgecumbe,--please,--please----'

'You are going to be my wife,' he went on, as if she had not spoken;
'some day, if not now, you are going to wake up to the fact that you
love me, as I love you,--that just as you are the only woman in the
world to me, so I am the only man in the world to you. That is not
because of my worthiness, because I am not worthy, but because the fire
which burns in my heart will be kindled in yours. This seems like
madness on my part, doesn't it?--but I am not mad. I am only speaking
because of a great conviction, and because my love envelops me, fills
me, overwhelms me. Don't you see? Then this has come to me: I am
poor, I am nameless, homeless,--but what of that? Love such as mine
makes everything possible, and I am going to make a name, make wealth,
make riches;--it won't take me long. Why,' and he laughed as he spoke,
'what is a great love for, but to conquer difficulties, to sweep away
impossibilities?'

'But this is madness, Mr. Edgecumbe,' replied the girl, finding her
voice at last. 'I can't allow you to speak in such a way any longer;
it would be wrong for me to do so. I do not wish to hurt you, and
indeed I am very sorry for you. I never thought that you would think
of me in this way; if I had, I would never have asked you to come here.
But you must see how impossible everything is; our habits of life, our
associations, everything, make it impossible. Besides, I don't love
you,--never can love you.'

'Oh, yes, you can,' replied Edgecumbe, 'and you will. It may be you
will have a great battle to fight,--I think you will; but you will love
me. When I am away from you,--when I am over in France, facing death,
you will think of me, think of this hour, and you will remember that
wherever I am, and whatever I am, I am thinking of you, loving
you,--that my one object in life will be to win a position for you, to
win a name for you. No, no, do not fear that I would ask you to marry
me until, even in that sense, I am