For a moment it seemed as if the question had left the ready-tongued young gentleman nonplussed; but it was only for a moment.
"My dear Stella, isn't it sufficient answer to say that my uncle was the only relative I have in the world?"
"My dear Rodney, I don't wish to comment on your sudden sensitiveness where your uncle is concerned. I never dreamt that you felt for him what you seem to feel; but I suppose your connection with him will cease when he is buried?"
"My dear Stella, I have already told you."
"Until the contents of the will are known who can say--positively?"
"There again, till the will is read, who can be sure?"
"'Invited' is scarcely the correct word; instructions have been issued that the whole staff is to attend. That rather looks as if he may have left something, possibly some trifle, to everyone who was actually in his employ at the time of his death."
"I see. That explains why you want to be present at the funeral. And afterwards, when the will has been read, will you--dine with us? Papa wants me to dine, I think, at the Savoy, to what he calls 'celebrate' our engagement."
"'If'! It's again 'if.' Is it to be all 'ifs '?"
"It doesn't matter. Shall we go to the drawing-room? I think we shall find that the Miss Claughtons and papa are waiting for us there."
The young lady turned as if to leave the room. He caught her by the arm.
"Stella, is it possible, is it conceivable, that you can imagine that what has happened is in the least degree, in any sense my fault? Can you suppose that I would not ten thousand times rather spend every hour of every day with you than do what I have done, what I may still have to do?--that my heart, my thoughts, are not with you every instant I have to spend in that confounded City?"
"Rodney, I am very anxious to believe that there are sufficient reasons which compel you to spend all the time you seem to spend in the City; but you don't manage to make it very clear what they are."
"Stella! Stella! How can you talk like that? What shall I say? What can I do?"
"You can promise to dine with us to-morrow night."
"No 'if'! If you only knew how I shall look forward to coming, what pleasure I shall give myself in coming! My dear, if you only knew how I am looking forward to dining with you all the days of all the year!"