"I am to propose to her--I?" says he.

"For me, of course. It is very usual," says Hardinge. "And you are
her guardian, you know, and----"

"Why not propose to her yourself?" says the professor, turning
violently upon him. "Why give me this terrible task? Are you a
coward, that you shrink from learning your fate except at the hands
of another--another who----"

"To tell you the truth, that is it," interrupts Hardinge, simply. "I
don't wonder at your indignation, but the fact is, I love her so
much, that I fear to put it to the touch myself. You _will_ help me,
won't you? You see, you stand in the place of her father, Curzon. If
you were her father, I should be saying to you just what I am saying
now."

"True," says the professor. His head is lowered. "There, go," says
he, "I must think this over."

"But I may depend upon you"--anxiously--"you will do what you can
for me?"

"I shall do what I can for _her."_



CHAPTER XIV.