I sometimes fancy that he
has made you look upon life differently from the way in which most women
look upon it, has filled it with more romance than it can hold, and
taken out of it much that is real."
"In fact, made me as mad as he is," laughed Barbara.
"I am not jesting," Sir John said gravely. "You have come back to the
Abbey a woman. You are more beautiful than I thought you were. You have
made something of a sensation. You say you have no confession to make."
"That I have no confession to make is true, and for the other items I am
glad I please you."
"But you do not please me," returned Sir John. "I should have been more
gratified had you made a confession. I have no son, Barbara."
She put her hand upon his arm in a quick caress, full of sympathy,
knowing how sore a trouble this was to him.
"So you see my interests are centred in you," he went on after a
moment's pause which served to intensify the meaning in his words. "One
of those interests--indeed, the chiefest of them--is your marriage. It
must be a wise marriage, Barbara, one worthy of a Lanison. Have you
never thought of it at all?"
"Never, definitely.
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