"Maurice," Lionel said, presently, with some hesitation, "tell me--could
I ask Nina--look at me--such a wreck--could I ask her to become my wife?
It's about Capri I am thinking--we could go together there, when I am a
bit stronger--"
There was a flash of satisfaction in the deep-set, friendly gray eyes.
"This is what I expected, Linn. Well, put the question to herself--and
the sooner the better!"
"Yes, but--" Lionel said, as if afraid.
"Oh, I know," Maurice said, confidently. "Tell Nina that you are not yet
quite recovered--that you have need of her care--and she will go to the
world's end with you. Only you must get married first, for the sake of
appearances."
"What will she say, Maurice?" he asked again, as if there were some
curious doubt, or perhaps merely timidity, in his mind.
"I think I know, but I am not going to tell," his friend answered,
lightly. "I am off up-stairs now. I will send Nina down; but without a
word of warning. You'll have to lead up to it yourself--and good-luck to
you, my boy!" And therewith Maurice departed to seek out Nina in the
chamber above; and as he went up the stairs he was saying to himself,
"Well, well; and so Miss Burgoyne did that of her own free will? I may
have done the young woman some injustice.
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