It is impossible that I should be your wife." "Do you mean that you cannot love me ?" "You have no right to press me any further," she said; and sat down upon the sofa, with an angry frown upon her forehead.
"By heavens," he said, "I will take no such answer from you till you put your hand upon your heart, and say that you cannot love me." "Oh, why should you press me so, Lord Lufton ?" "Why, because my happiness depends upon it; because it behoves me to know the very truth.

It has come to this, that I love you with my whole heart, and I must know how your heart stands towards me." She had now again risen from the sofa, and was looking steadily in his face.
"Lord Lufton," she said, "I cannot love you," and as she spoke she did put her hand, as he had desired, upon her heart.
"Then God help me! for I am wretched.

Good-bye, Lucy," and he stretched out his hand to her.
"Good-bye, my lord.

Do not be angry with me." "No, no, no!" and without further speech he left the room and the house and hurried home.

It was hardly surprising that he should that evening tell his mother that Griselda Grantly would be a companion sufficiently good for his sister.