I have no doubt that
she has made herself very agreeable to you,--that is her nature; I know
that she used to make herself very agreeable to people. You must
remember that, even should Sylvia leave us, your chances may be no
better than they are now."
"Madam," I said, leaning toward her, and speaking with great
earnestness, "I will take all possible chances! What I ask and implore
of you is, that if you should ever be able to do the least little thing
which would give me the opportunity to plead my own suit before Sylvia,
you would do it. I can give her position and fortune. I think I am
suited to her, and if love can make me better suited, I have love
enough. Now tell me, will you not do this thing? If you have the
opportunity, and see no reason against it, will you not help me?"
"This is a hard position for me," she said, after a pause, "and all I
can promise you is this: I love Sylvia, and I am going to do whatever I
think will be of the greatest advantage to her."
"Then," I asserted with continued earnestness, "it shall be my labor to
prove that to love the man who loves her as I do will be her greatest
good! If I do that, will you be on my side?"
She smiled, looked at me a few moments, and then answered, "Yes.
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