"Through loving her. It's the truth, Brooke, as I stand here. I've known it for some little time. It is only because it may seem too sudden to her and to you that I haven't spoken before, and I did not mean to do so when I came here this afternoon. But the fact remains, I love Lesley, and I want her to be my wife." "Heavens and earth!" said Caspar. "Is the man gone mad!" CHAPTER XX. LESLEY'S LETTER. "Not a bit of it," said Maurice sturdily. "I speak the words of truth and soberness. I've thought about it for some time." "A week?" "I'm in earnest, Brooke. Do you consent?" "My good man," said Caspar, slowly, "you forget that I am probably the last person in the world whose consent is of any value." "Pooh!" "You may say 'pooh' as much as you like, but the fact remains. When Lesley leaves me, say next August or September, she goes to her mother and her grandfather, who's an earl, more's the pity. They have the guardianship, you understand." "But you have it legally still." "Hum--no: we had a formal separation. I named the terms, certainly: I was angry at the time, and was inclined to say that if I might not bring up the child in my own way, neither should its mother. That was why we compromised by sending her to school--but it was to be a school of Lady Alice's choice. The year with me afterwards was a suggestion of mine, of course. But I can't alter what was agreed on then." "Naturally. But----" "And as to money affairs," said Caspar, ruthlessly cutting him short, "I have been put all along into the most painful and ridiculous position that a man can well be in. I offered to settle a certain income on my wife and daughter: Lady Alice and her father refused to accept any money from me. I have paid various sums into his bank for Lesley, but I have reason to believe that they have never touched a farthing of it. You see they've put me at a disadvantage all round. And what is to be done when she marries, unless she marries with their consent, I don't quite see. She won't like to offend them or seem ungrateful when they have done so much for her; and I--according to the account that they will give her--I have done nothing. So I don't suppose I shall be consulted about her marriage." "You are her father: you must be consulted." "Well, as a matter of form! But I expect that she is destined to marry a duke, my dear fellow; and I call it sheer folly on your part to have fallen in love with her." "But you don't object, Brooke?" "I only hope that the destined duke will be half as decent a chap as you are. But I can't encourage you--Lesley will have to look out for squalls if she engages herself to you." "May I not speak to her then?" inquired Maurice ruefully. "Not at once, perhaps, you know; but if I think that I have a chance?"