“What is it?”
“If things go on as they are going on now, shall I tell you how it will end? It will end in your being Turlington’s wife.”
“Never!”
“So you say now; but you don’t know what may happen between this and Christmas-day. Natalie, there is only one way of making sure that you will never marry Richard. Marry me .”
“Without papa’s consent?”
“Without saying a word to anybody till it’s done.”
“Oh, Launce! Launce!”
“My darling, every word you have said proves there is no other way. Think of it, Natalie, think of it.”
There was a pause. Natalie dropped her needle and thread, and hid her face in her hands. “If my poor mother was only alive,” she said; “if I only had an elder sister to advise me, and to take my part.”
She was evidently hesitating. Launce took a man’s advantage of
