"Then, am I to understand, that when you called that day at my house, you carried no intention with you of proposing to Isabel ?" "Not any.

It was an impromptu step, the circumstances under which I found her calling it forth." The earl paced the room, perplexed still, and evidently disturbed.

"May I inquire if you love her ?" he abruptly said.
Mr.Carlyle paused ere he spoke, and a red flush dyed his face.

"Those sort of feelings man rarely acknowledges to man, Lord Mount Severn, but I will answer you.

I do love her, passionately and sincerely; I learnt to love her at East Lynne; but I could have carried my love silently within me to the end of my life and never betrayed it; and probably should have done so, but for the unexpected visit to Castle Marling.