u have now done me;--for from you it is an honour. But I cannot say
that I love you. It would not be natural that I should do so."

"Good heavens! not natural. I love you with the whole strength of my
heart. Is that unnatural?"

"It is the province of men to take the initiative in such matters,"
said Caroline, smiling.

"I know nothing as to man's province, or of woman's province either.
By province, you mean custom and conventional rule; and conventional
rule means falsehood. I have known you but a week or two, and I love
you dearly. You, of course, have known me as long, and are at any
rate as capable of loving as I am. There would be nothing unnatural
in you loving me--though, indeed, it may be very unlikely that you
should do so."

"Well; I will not contradict you in anything if I can help it, except
perhaps as to that last little would-be-proud, petulant protest. But
putting out of sight all question of likelihood, what ought I to
do if I do not love you? What in such a case would you recommend a
sister to do? Is it not better that we should not be immediately
thrown together, as must so certainly be the case in travelling?"

"Then I am to understand that you positively can never love me?"

"I have not said so: but you press me unfairly, Mr. Bertram."

"Unfairly. No, by heavens! no pressure in such case can be unfair. I
would press the truth out from you--the real truth; the truth that so
vitally concerns myself. You will not say that you have an aversion
to me?"

"Aversion! No, certainly not."

"Or that you cannot love me? Then why not let us remain together? You
argue that you do not yet know me well enough; will not that be the
way to know me better?"

"If I were to travel with you now, Mr. Bertram, it would be
tantamount to accepting you. Your own sense will certainly tell you
that. Were I to do so, I should give you the privilege of coming with
me as my lover. Forgive me for saying that I cannot give you that
privilege. I grieve to hurt your feelings for a day even; but I am
sure you will ultimately approve of what I am doing."

"And are we to meet no more, then?"

"Of course we shall meet again; at least, in all human probability.
My guardian is your uncle."

"I never even knew that till I met you the other day."

"Because you have always been at school or at college; but you know
it now. I, at least, shall look forward to meeting you--and so will
my aunt."

"Yes; as acquaintances. It woul