to prevent it. But your father since his losses has got morbidabout your future, and Madelene has got morbid too in another way;self-sacrifice seemed the readiest means of cutting the knot, and so shehas persuaded herself that it was her duty. But now--"
He had drawn Ella's pretty head close till it all but rested on hisshoulder, suddenly she drew herself away and faced him with anxious eyesand tremulous mouth.
"Morbid about my future! How do you mean?" she exclaimed.
"What a fool I am," Philip replied. "I forgot you didn't understand.It was only, darling, that the money that should have been for _you_--Madelene and Ermine having very large fortunes from their mother--waslost several years ago. And there might have been difficulties, onceyour sisters were married and all that, in the way of their making any_certain_ provision for you, so--"
"So Madelene would have sacrificed herself for _me_?" Ella interrupted.
"In a sense, yes, I suppose I must say so. But also for the sake ofyour father's peace of mind, and the fear of not being free to do herduty as a wife. She has mounted it all up most ingeniously. But now--Maddie will be _so_ glad, Ella."
Ella's face was turned away however. Sir Philip grew uneasy.
"Ella," he repeated, and with gentle force he turned her head, so thatshe had to look at him. She was crying.
Philip changed his tone.
"Ella," he said gravely, "I don't think this is fair upon me. Any oneto see you, as you are now, would not believe that you were happy inwhat you have just promised. Are you regretting it already?--if so--"
Ella melted at once.
"Oh, no, no! You know it is not that," she said. "How _could_ I? Ihave only just told you how I care for you. I care for you_dreadfully_, Philip. But it is just that that makes me so unhappy--sofrightened that it is only, or mostly that you pity me. I never dreamtthat I was poor. I wish, I do wish they had told me."
"It was done with the best and purest motives," Sir Philip answeredquietly. "But, Ella, how can you say such things? The very breath ofthem spoils it all--all our pretty romance. Why, my darling, if you hadbeen a great heiress like your sisters it would have lost all its charm;you would not have been what you are--my fairy princess, my Cinderella!"
And Ella looked up smiling again among her tears.
"Let us go and tell them all," she said. "Madelene and my father. Andoh, Philip, dear godmother! It was she after all--a great dealcertainly was her doing. For if we hadn't met first as we did,perhaps--who knows?--perhaps you would never have taken such a fancy tome?"
"Who knows?" said Philip teasingly. "There is one thing I must get outof granny, Ella. I shall insist on your being married in those littleold slippers."
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The End.
The Third Miss St Quentin Page 48
