"But I thought you gave me to understand that you love each other!"
"So we do, father."
"Then, if he loves you, why don't he come and tell me so like an
honorable man?"
"Father, he has never even told me so."
"EH!"
"He has never breathed a word of love to me."
"Then how the deuce do you know that he loves you, girl?"
"Oh, by every glance of his eyes, by every tone of his voice, and by my
own heart! Oh, father, do you think I would bear to tell you this, if I
were not sure of it."
"Umph, umph! But why don't he speak?--that's what I want to know! Why
don't he speak?"
"Dear father, can you not comprehend that he is too proud to do so?"
"Too proud! By my word! It is a new hearing that a Howe should be too
proud to seek an alliance with a Berners!" exclaimed old Bertram hotly,
rising from his chair.
"Old age ne'er cooled the Douglas blood," and it had not cooled his.
Sybil smiled to see how utterly he had misunderstood her, and making him
sit down again, she said, "You dear old darling, it is not that! It is the very opposite to that.
It is because he is poor and we are rich, and he is too proud to be
called a fortune-hunter."
"Oh, I understand! I understand!
'Among the rest young Edwin bowed,
But never told his love.
Wisdom, and worth were all he had.'"
"Yes, dear father, that is just the truth. You wish me to marry; but,
dear, dear father, I can never bring myself to marry any one but him;
and he loves me truly, but does not seek me?" she breathed in a low and
tremulous tone, half smothered also by the hands with which she covered
her blushing face.
"Now what am I to do in this case? I have nothing against the young man
whatever, except his poverty and big long line of poor relations, that
will be sure to be a burden to him!" grumbled old Bertram to himself.
"But, father, we are so rich! We have enough for so many people,"
pleaded Sybil.
"Not enough to enrich all the Howes, my dear! But I like the young man,
I really do like him, and if he had more money, and less relations, I
should prefer him to any young man in the neighborhood for a
son-in-law."
"O father, dear father, thank you, thank you for saying that," exclaimed
Sybil, fervently kissing his hands.
"And now that you have told me your mind, what do you want me to do, my
darling?" he inquired, returning her caresses.