I began to find him less interesting than I had done a minute ago. I pushed a big sofa-pillow between my back and the edge of the sofa; I pined for eleven o'clock on the following day. "I must make my meaning plain," he said. "I want someone just like you, young, and pure, and innocent, and, I believe, holy--to help me, to live with me, to be my--oh! I want someone whom I could train and--whom I could love." "A sort of companion," I said, in some amazement; "or, perhaps, you mean an adopted daughter; but then, you see, I am father's daughter, although he has married Lady Helen." "Ah, poor child!" he said. "I can quite see that you are your father's daughter, although he has married Lady Helen. But tell me--do you really think me old enough to be your father?" "But, of course--yes, Lord Hawtrey, you are." "Perhaps I am; on the other hand, perhaps I am not. But, after all, little Miss Heather, the question of age scarcely matters. Deep in my heart there lives eternal youth, and now and then--oh, by no means always--but now and then, and especially when I am with you, it comes to the surface. Eternal youth is a beautiful thing, and when I see you, little Miss Grayson, and watch your innocent country ways, it visits me; it is like a cool, refreshing fountain, bubbling up in my heart." "But aren't we perhaps talking fairy talk?" I said, pulling one of the roses out of its position in front of my dress and letting it fall to the floor. He got very red, but nevertheless he kept himself well in control. "I want you to think it over," he said. "I know you will be unprepared for what I mean to say. I want you as my wife. I can give you all the outward things that the hearts of most women desire--I can give you wealth, and beautiful dresses, and a lovely house--several lovely houses--to live in; and I can make the best, and the greatest, and the cleverest people your friends. I can take you far away, too, from this flash and glitter. Little child, I can help to save you. Will you be my wife? Don't--at least to-night--say no. I promise to make you the best, the most devoted of husbands. I shall love you as I never loved woman, and you will soon get accustomed to my grey hairs, and to the fact that I am forty years of age. Don't say no, little Heather. I have loved you with my whole heart, from the first moment I saw you." I knew that, in spite of myself, my eyes opened wide, so wide that presently they filled with tears, and the tears dropped down and splashed on the roses which I had put on with such pride. I knew now from where the flowers had come. I hated the roses; I loathed their heavy perfume. I rose abruptly. "Lord Hawtrey," I said, "I ought to thank you, but I am too young and confused, and--and--oh, I must say it!--too _distressed_! You don't want to force me to this?" "No. You must come to me of your own free will."