"Sally Groves was no more than half right," he said, "so her fame for wisdom is shaken. She told us we didn't know we loved one another, Estelle. But I know I love you well enough, and I've been shaking in my shoes to tell you so for months and months. I knew I was getting too old every minute and yet couldn't say the word. But I must say it now at any cost. Chicky, I love you--dearly, dearly I love you--because I'm calm and steady, that doesn't mean I'm not in a blaze inside. I never thought of it even while you were growing up. But a time came when I did begin to think of it like the deuce; and when once I did, the thought towered up like the effreet let out of the bottle--that story you loved when you were small. But my only fear and dread is that you've always been accustomed to think of me as so much older than you are. If you once get an idea into your head about a person's age, you can't get it out again. At least, I can't; so I'm afraid you'll regard me as quite out of the question for a husband. If that's so, I'll begin over again." Her eyes were round and her mouth a little open. She did not blink when the lightning flashed. "But--but--" she said. "If I'm not too old, there are no 'buts' left," he declared firmly. "Ten years is no great matter after all, and from the point of view of brains, I'm an infant beside you. Then say 'yes,' my darling--say 'yes' to me." "I wonder--I wonder, Ray?" "Haven't you ever guessed what I felt?" "Yes, in a vague way. At least I knew there was something growing up between us." "It was love, my beautiful dear." She smiled at him doubtfully. The colour had come back to her face, but she did not respond when he lifted his arms to her. "Are you sure--can you be sure, Ray? It's so different,--so shattering. It seems to smash up all the past into little bits and begin the world all over again--for you and me. It's such a near thing. I've seen the married people and wondered about it. You might get so weary of always having me so close." "I want you close--closer and closer. I want you as the best part of myself--to make me happier first and, because happier, more useful in the world. I want you at the helm of my life--to steer me, Chicky. What couldn't we do together! It's selfish--? it's one-sided, I know that. I get everything--you only get me. But I'll try and rise to the occasion. I worship you, and no woman ever had a more devout worshipper. I feel that your father wouldn't be very mad with me. But it's for you to decide, nothing else matters either way."