"Well;--yes; that is to say, I guessed it. It was natural enough that the same idea should come to her and to me too. Of course, seeing us so much thrown together, she could not but think of our being married as a chance upon the cards." "She used to tell me that I was harsh to you;--abrupt, she called it. But what could I do? I'll tell you, Fred, how I first found out that I really cared for you. What I tell you now is of course a secret; and I should speak of it to no one under any circumstances but those which unite us two together. My cousin Will, when he was at Belton, made me an offer." "He did, did he? You did not tell me that when you were saying all those fine things in his praise in the railway carriage." "Of course I did not. Why should I? I wasn't bound to tell you my secrets then, sir." "But he did absolutely offer to you?" "Is there anything so wonderful in that? But, wonderful or not, he did." "And you refused him?" "I refused him certainly." "It wouldn't have been a bad match, if all that you say about his property is true." "If you come to that, it would have been a very good match; and perhaps you think I was silly to decline it?" "I don't say that." "Papa thought so;--but, then, I couldn't tell papa the whole truth, as I can tell it to you now, Captain Aylmer. I couldn't tell dear papa that my heart was not my own to give to my cousin Will; nor could I give Will any such reason. Poor Will! I could only say to him bluntly that I wouldn't have him." "And you would, if it hadn't been,--hadn't been--for me." "Nay, Fred; there you tax me too far. What might have come of my heart if you hadn't fallen in my way, who can say? I love Will Belton dearly, and hope that you may do so--" "I must see him first." "Of course;--but, as I was saying, I doubt whether, under any circumstances, he would have been the man I should have chosen for a husband. But as it was,--it was impossible. Now you know it all, and I think that I have been very frank with you." "Oh! very frank." He would not take her little jokes, nor understand her little prettinesses. That he was a man not prone to joking she knew well, but still it went against the grain with her to find that he was so very hard in his replies to her attempts.