Shehadbegunbywatchingthewordsfromhislipswithamournfulregard，asthoughtheirpassagewerevisible；butashewentonshedroppedherglance。“Yes。”shesaid，“Ihavethoughtthat，too。And，becauseIhavethoughtit，Ibynomeansmeant，inspeakingoftheproprieties，tobereservedandcoldtoyouwholovedmesolongago，ortohurtyourheartasIusedtodoatthatthoughtlesstime。Oh，notatall，indeed！But——oughtItoallowyou？——oh，itistooquick——surely！”Hereyesfilledwithtearsofbewildered，alarmedemotion。
Winterbornewastoostraightforwardtoinfluenceherfurtheragainstherbetterjudgment。“Yes——Isupposeitis。”hesaid，repentantly。“I’llwaittillallissettled。Whatdidyourfathersayinthatlastletter？”
Hemeantabouthisprogresswiththepetition；butshe，mistakinghim，franklyspokeofthepersonalpart。“Hesaid——whatIhaveimplied。ShouldItellmoreplainly？”
“Ohno——don’t，ifitisasecret。”
“Notatall。Iwilltelleveryword，straightout，Giles，ifyouwish。HesaidIwastoencourageyou。There。ButIcannotobeyhimfurtherto-day。Come，letusgonow。”Shegentlyslidherhandfromhis，andwentinfrontofhimoutoftheAbbey。