She looked
at him, and he looked at her. They seemed, at the outset, at
least, resolved to understand one another plainly.
"I have heard from Marian," she went on, "that I have only to
claim my release from our engagement to obtain that release from
you. It was forbearing and generous on your part, Sir Percival,
to send me such a message. It is only doing you justice to say
that I am grateful for the offer, and I hope and believe that it
is only doing myself justice to tell you that I decline to accept
it."
His attentive face relaxed a little. But I saw one of his feet,
softly, quietly, incessantly beating on the carpet under the
table, and I felt that he was secretly as anxious as ever.
"I have not forgotten," she said, "that you asked my father's
permission before you honoured me with a proposal of marriage.
Perhaps you have not forgotten either what I said when I consented
to our engagement? I ventured to tell you that my father's
influence and advice had mainly decided me to give you my promise.
I was guided by my father, because I had always found him the
truest of all advisers, the best and fondest of all protectors and
friends. I have lost him now--I have only his memory to love, but
my faith in that dear dead friend has never been shaken.
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