"I have never promised you!" she declared with hurried vehemence. "I
never will promise you! I can't marry you. If I've made you think so, I
didn't mean to. I didn't know my own mind. I thought--O Mr. Stanford,
if I have deceived you, I beg your pardon. I"--
The tears choked and blinded her. She broke off, and put her
handkerchief to her eyes; but when she heard him rise and hurry toward
her, she went on hastily.
"I've let you go on thinking I'd marry you; I know I have. I thought so
myself; but I've found out that it's all a mistake. I didn't realize
what I was doing. I'm so sorry. I do hope you'll forgive me."
He regarded her in amazement not unmingled with indignation.
"You have let me think so," he said. "Now I suppose there's somebody
else."
"Oh, I shall never marry anybody," she answered quickly.
"When a girl tells one man she never'll marry," retorted he bitterly,
"there's sure to be another man in her mind."
She felt herself burn with blushes to her brow; and then in very shame
and anger to grow pale again. Her first impulse was to leave him; but
she controlled herself. He was her guest, he had come all the way from
Boston to assure himself that she was safe, and more than all she was
sorely aware that she had not treated him well.
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