The Hoyden Part 16

On the instant he makes up his mind to risk the proposal. In all probability she will say "No" to it. But if not--if she accepts him--he swears to himself he will be true to her.

"The most dreadful thing you could do," says he, "would be to marry a man who did not love you."

"Eh?" says she.

She seems surprised.

"To marry a man, then, with whom you weren't in love!"

"Oh, _that_, that's nothing," says she grandly. "I'd do a great deal more than _that_ to get away from my uncle. But"--sorrowfully-- "n.o.body's asked me."

She says it so innocently, so sweetly, that Rylton's heart grows cold within him. To ask her! To tempt this child----

"But," says he, looking away from her religiously, "would you marry a man who was not in love with _you?"_

"Not in love with me?"

"No. Not actually in love, but who admired--liked you?"

"But a man who wasn't in love with me wouldn't want to marry me,"

says t.i.ta. "At least, that's what the novels say."

"He might," says Rylton deliberately. He leans forward. "Will you marry _me?"_

He almost laughs aloud as he makes his extraordinary proposal. If it fails, as it certainly _must_, he will throw up the remnant of his life here and go abroad. And, at all events, he can so far satisfy his mother as to a.s.sure her that he had placed his all at this little heiress's feet.

"You! You!" says she.

She stares at him.

"Even me! You said a moment ago that no man would ask you to marry him for any reason less than love; but I--I am not in love with you, and yet I ask you to marry me."

He pauses here, shocked at his own words, his brutal audacity.

"But why?" asks the girl slowly.

She is looking at him, deep inquiry and wonder in her great gray eyes.

"Because I am poor and you are rich," says he honestly. "Your money could redeem this old place, and I could give you a t.i.tle--a small thing, no doubt."

"You could take me away from my uncle," says the girl thoughtfully.

There is silence for awhile, and then--"I should be able to do as I liked," says she, as if communing with herself.

"That certainly," says Rylton, who feels as if all things should be allowed her at this juncture, considering how little it is in his power to allow.

"And you?" She looks up at him. _"You_ could do as you liked, too!"

"Thank you!" says Rylton.

He smiles in spite of himself, but the girl continues very grave.

"You say you have nothing," says she, "but this house?"

"It is useless arguing about it," returns Rylton; "this house will go shortly with all the rest. For myself, I don't care much really, but my mother--she would feel it. That's why I say you can help us, if you will."

"I should like to help _you!"_ says t.i.ta, still very slowly.

She lays a stress upon the word "you."

"Well, will you trust yourself to me?"

"Trust myself!"

"Will you marry me? Consider how it is. I lay it all before you. I am not in love with you, and I have not a penny in the world.

Literally, I have nothing."

"You have a mother," says t.i.ta. "I," pathetically, "have nothing."

It is plain to him that she had set great store by her dead father.

"I have nothing, really. But you say this house must go?"

"Not if you will help me to keep it."

"I should not like to live here," says t.i.ta, with some haste. And then in a low tone, "Your mother would live here?"

"Yes, certainly."

"Well, and I--I have been very unhappy with Uncle George," says she.

Her air is so nave that Rylton bursts out laughing. After all, the last thing he would desire either would be to live here with his mother.

"You would not have to make this place your home," says he. It had never been a home to him since his father's death. "You shall command me in this matter; I shall live at Oakdean if that is your desire." Indeed, it seems to him it would be a great relief to get away from the Hall, from his mother, from----

"To live at Oakdean!" The girl's face grows transfigured. She stares at him as if hardly seeing him, however; her thoughts have carried her back to past delights in which he has had no part. "To live there again!" She sighs quickly, excitedly. "You haven't seen it, you don't _know,"_ says she. "But it is the most beautiful place on earth." She puts out her hand and lays it on his. "If I marry you, will you promise that I shall live at Oakdean?"

"If you will do me the honour to marry me, you shall live just where you like," returns he. Indeed, to him it is now a matter of indifference where life may be dragged out to its weary end. But t.i.ta fails to see the apathy in his manner.

"Then, it is settled," cries she joyfully. She clasps her hands.

"Oh, how _good_ of you!" says she. "What a blessing I came here!

Fancy getting rid of Uncle George and getting back to Oakdean all in one stroke!" Suddenly she looks round at him; there is almost terror in her gaze. "You are sure you _mean_ it?" says she.

"I mean it. But, t.i.ta,"--he takes one of her hands and holds it between his own, and regards her with some anxiety--"have you thought it all out? I have told you the truth, you know. I have told you that I am not in love with you."

"In love with me! I'm sure I hope not," says t.i.ta with a disgusted air. "Don't put yourself out about that. I should hate you if you were in love with me. Fancy a person following me about always, and saying silly things to me, and perhaps wanting to kiss me! You,"

anxiously looking at him with searching eyes, "you wouldn't want to kiss me, would you?"

She looks so pretty as she puts this startling question, that Rylton loses himself a little.

"I don't know."

"Then you had _better_ know, and at _once,"_ says Miss Bolton, with decision.