“I believe you mean it. Well — let’s get married, then.”

“Thank you,” said Valancy, with a sudden return of primness. She would have been much less embarrassed if he had refused her.

“I suppose I haven’t any right to make conditions. But I’m going to make one. You are never to refer to my heart or my liability to sudden death. You are never to urge me to be careful. You are to forget — absolutely forget — that I’m not perfectly healthy. I have written a letter to my mother — here it is — you are to keep it. I have explained everything in it. If I drop dead suddenly — as I likely will do — ”

“It will exonerate me in the eyes of your kindred from the suspicion of having poisoned you,”