"Yes," she answered, cordially enough, but without the old-time gladness
in her manner.

"And my purpose in coming concerns you," I continued.

She started perceptibly and blushed, but after a moment brought herself
together and asked laughingly:--

"You don't want to marry me, brother Ned?"

"No, no," I answered. "We're far too dear to each other to spoil it all
by marriage, and my station in life, to say nothing of my small estate,
is in no way up to your value. It would not be a fair exchange. Your
husband shall be at least a duke, with not less than forty thousand
pounds a year. That, by the way, is a part of my mission in Sundridge.
No, no, I do not bring an offer!" I said, hastily, noticing that she
drew away from me in her manner, "I simply hope to pave the way to such
an offer some time in the future, and want to warn you against doing
anything that might forestall good fortune."

I had hardly finished speaking when her manner of drawing away became so
pronounced that I feared I might lose my race by going too fast, so I
quickly sought to right myself by saying with marked emphasis:--

"I am not going to pry into your affairs."

A telltale blush came to her cheek as she interrupted me with a touch of
warmth: "I have no affairs."