‘No,’ said she. ‘It is not fit that a man like you, in your position, should marry a girl with the--connections--that I have.’ ‘You mean this seriously?’ ‘I am quite decided about it.’ ‘Then good-bye,’ said Sebastian, abruptly rising; ‘I will bear it as best I can.’ He was going, but suddenly turned to her again and stooped over her. ‘Helena,’ he said, and his voice was so changed that she looked up affrighted--‘is it that your pride is stronger than your love? Because, if so, yours is not real love.’ ‘My pride!’ she ejaculated. ‘Yes, your pride, which is afraid lest it should be said that I stooped to you? That is the secret of this objection. You would ruin our two lives for the sake of gratifying your pride.’ ‘Sebastian!’ ‘Helena?’ ‘It is not that....’ ‘What else is it?’ She was silent, in pain and uncertainty, till he said: ‘_My_ pride is not so great as my love. You have conquered me, Helena. I would go through fire and water to win you. Once more, will you tell me again to go?’ His voice had sunk to a whisper. He was leaning over the settee, and she, with a sudden shiver at the idea his words conjured up, looked up to him. He stooped, by an involuntary, instinctive impulse, and kissed her. ‘Must I go, or may I stay? Answer me, my darling.’ ‘Do not go!’ said Helena, almost inaudibly, and Sebastian stayed; but he could not conceal from himself that he had yet much to win, much service to do, before he could call Helena his own. She loved him; she said so; she felt it, but she was proud: he had been right when he said so. Despite her love, she was half ashamed, half angry at finding herself conquered, and the glance was a shy and wavering one which he met. It was a strange fact, that though he wished very much that Helena would ask him to go home with her, though he had a couple of hours to spare, yet he dared not venture to hint at the invitation. All he could venture upon was to say to her. ‘You will allow me to take you to Mrs. Galloway’s, as it is late?’ ‘Yes, please,’ said Helena, rising. And they went downstairs. Sebastian gave Helena her umbrella, carried her cloak, opened the door for her, in a strange silence. She had just accepted him, and yet he had never felt so completely held at arm’s length before. Helena’s own shyness and timidity effected what the most cunningly laid stratagem could not have accomplished--they raised her lover’s fervent admiration into absolute worship. He called a cab, and in it they drove towards the Victoria Park. When they were nearly there, Sebastian, unable to endure the silence any longer, said. ‘Helena, when may I come to see you? Will you not even look at me?’ he added, almost vehemently. ‘You cannot know how hardly you are treating me.’ ‘Hardly!’ she repeated. ‘I--it is so strange. It is a most wonderful feeling.’ ‘But pleasant, I hope?’ suggested Sebastian, earnestly. ‘Oh, very!’ ‘Then may I come soon to see you? To ask Mrs. Spenceley’s consent----’