And now sir, if you please, good-night."
"But I do not please. You shall not go. What have I done, Mary?
Tell me. You must not go without telling me how I have vexed you.
What would you have me do?"
"Nothing, sir, but" (in an agitated tone), "oh! let me go! You
cannot change my mind; it's quite made up. Oh, sir! why do you hold
me so tight? If you WILL know why I won't have anything more to do
with you, it is that I cannot love you. I have tried, and I really
cannot."
This naive and candid avowal served her but little. He could not
understand how it could be true. Some reason lurked behind. He was
passionately in love. What should he do to tempt her? A thought
struck him.
"Listen! Mary. Nay, I cannot let you go till you have heard me. I
do love you dearly; and I won't believe but what you love me a very
little, just a very little. Well, if you don't like to own it,
never mind! I only want now to tell you how much I love you, by
what I am ready to give up for you. You know (or perhaps you are
not fully aware) how little my father and mother would like me to
marry you.
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