"Why do you ask me?"
"Because they say you and he are going to be married some day, yet
you don't seem to care much to be together."
"It is all nonsense!" replied Arctura, reddening. "I wish people
would not talk foolishness!"
"Well, I do think he's not so fond of you as of Eppy!"
"Hush! hush! you must not speak of such thing."
"I saw him once kiss Eppy, and I never saw him kiss you!"
"No, indeed!"
"Is it right of Forgue, if he's going to marry you, to kiss
Eppy?--That's what I want to know!"
"He is not going to marry me."
"He would, if you told him you wished it. Papa wishes it."
"How do you know that?"
"From many thing. Once I heard him say, 'Afterwards, when the house
is our own,' and I asked him what he meant, and he said, 'When
Forgue marries Arctura, then the castle will be Forgue's. That is
how it ought to be, you know! Property and title ought never to be
parted.'"
The hot blood rose to Arctura's temples: was she a mere wrappage to
her property--the paper of the parcel! But she called to mind how
strange her uncle was: but for that could he have been so imprudent
as to talk in such a way to a boy whose simplicity rendered the
confidence dangerous?
"You would not like having to give away your castle--would you,
Arkie?" he went on.
"Not to any one I did not love."
"If I were you, I would not marry, but keep my castle to myself.
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