"
"Love has not come to me yet; it might come when you return," Barbara
said. "Without love I will not give my promise to any man."
"Love will come," was the answer; "and, besides, love is not the whole
of marriage. There are other reasons often--indeed, almost always--for
giving a promise."
"Is it bargaining, you mean?"
"I would not call it by such a name," said Rosmore. "The alliance which
satisfies parents and guardians, which sends a man and a woman walking
side by side along a worthy road in the world, giving each to each what
the other lacks, a good, useful comradeship which keeps at arm's length
the world's cares, surely this makes a true marriage, and into it,
believe me, love will come."
"It may, Lord Rosmore, but I am not yet persuaded that the road is
worthy, nor that such a comradeship between us could bring good. Believe
me, you will be far wiser to give me time. Wait for your answer until
you return."
"I fear to find the bird stolen," he said.
"I am not so desirable a possession as you imagine," she answered, with
an effort to bring an element of banter into the interview.
"You cannot see yourself at this moment, Mistress Lanison, or you would
not say so.
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