And he put before me so kindly, and yet so
strongly, how seriously we ought to consider, in our circumstances,
that I resolved to speak to you the next moment we were alone and
grave. And if I seemed to come to it easily just now, because I
came to it all at once, don't think it was so really, Eddy, for O,
it was very, very hard, and O, I am very, very sorry!'
Her full heart broke into tears again. He put his arm about her
waist, and they walked by the river-side together.
'Your guardian has spoken to me too, Rosa dear. I saw him before I
left London.' His right hand was in his breast, seeking the ring;
but he checked it, as he thought: 'If I am to take it back, why
should I tell her of it?'
'And that made you more serious about it, didn't it, Eddy? And if
I had not spoken to you, as I have, you would have spoken to me? I
hope you can tell me so? I don't like it to be ALL my doing,
though it IS so much better for us.'
'Yes, I should have spoken; I should have put everything before
you; I came intending to do it. But I never could have spoken to
you as you have spoken to me, Rosa.'
'Don't say you mean so coldly or unkindly, Eddy, please, if you can
help it.'
'I mean so sensibly and delicately, so wisely and affectionately.'
'That's my dear brother!' She kissed his hand in a little rapture.
'The dear girls will be dreadfully disappointed,' added Rosa,
laughing, with the dewdrops glistening in her bright eyes. 'They
have looked forward to it so, poor pets!'
'Ah! but I fear it will be a worse disappointment to Jack,' said
Edwin Drood, with a start.
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