He turned round sharply and caught her by the arm, his eyes flashing with indignation. "Jenny," he cried, "are you mad?" "No, only in pain," she said, with her lip quivering. "You hurt me. You are so strong." "I--I did not mean it," he said, releasing her. "But you hurt me still, dear, to see you like this. Oh, Pierce, darling," she whispered, as she clung to his arm and nestled to him; "don't try and hide it from me. A woman always knows. I saw it from the first when she came down, and we first noticed her, and she came to church looking like some dear, suffering saint. My heart went out to her at once, and the more so that I saw the effect it had on you. Pierce, dear, you do love me?" "You know," he said hoarsely. "Then be open with me. What could be better?" He was silent for a few moments, and then he answered the pretty, wistful eyes, gazing so inquiringly in his. "Yes," he said. "I will be open with you, Sis, for you mean well; but you speak like the pretty child you have always been to me. Has it ever crossed your mind that I have never spoken to this lady, and that she is a rich heiress, and that I am a poor doctor who is making a failure of his life?" "What!" cried the girl proudly. "Why, if she were a princess she would not be too grand for my brave noble brother." "Hah!" he cried, with a scornful laugh; "your brave noble brother! Well, go on and still think so of me, little one. It's very pleasant, and does not hurt anyone. I hope I'm too sensible to be spoiled by my little flatterer. Only keep your love for me yet awhile," he said meaningly. "Let's leave love out of the question till we can pay our way and have something to spare, instead of having no income at all but what comes from consols." "But Pierce--" "That will do. You're a dear little goose. We must want the Queen's Crown from the Tower because it's pretty." "Now you're talking nonsense, Pierce," she said, firmly, and she held his arm tightly between her little hands. "You can't deny it, sir. You fell in love with her from the first." "Jenny, my child," he said quietly. "I promised our father I would be an honorable man and a gentleman." "And so you would have been, without promising." "I hope so. Then now listen to me; never speak to me in this way again." "I will," she cried flushing. "Answer me this; would it be acting like an honorable man to let that sweet angel of a girl marry Claud Wilton?" "What!" he cried, starting, and gazing at his sister intently. "Her own cousin? Absurd." "I've heard that it is to be so." "Nonsense!" "People say so, and where there's smoke there's fire. Cousins marry, and I don't believe they'll let a fortune like that go out of the family." "They're rich enough to laugh at it." "They're not rich; they're poor, for the Squire's in difficulties."