And, though he loved the girl after his fashion, he desired to wound her by no such vile proposal.

He did not wish to live a life of sin, if such life might be avoided.

If he made his proposal, it would be but for her sake; or rather that he might show her that he did not wish to cast her aside.

It was by asserting to himself that for her sake he would relinquish his own rank, were that possible, that he attempted to relieve his own conscience.

But, in the mean time, she was in his arms talking about their joint future home! "Where do you think of living ?" asked Mrs.O'Hara in a tone which shewed plainly the anxiety with which she asked the question.
"Probably abroad," he said.
"But mother may go with us ?" The girl felt that the tension of his arm was relaxed, and she knew that all was not well with him.