She had made an attempt to talk him out of his
purpose. Could it be that she thought it possible a second attempt
might be successful? If so, she did not know him.
She had in truth thought not only that this, but that something
further than this might be possible. Of course the prize loomed
larger before her eyes as the prospect of obtaining it became
less. She could not doubt that he had intended to offer her his
hand when he had spoken to her of his love in London. Then she had
stopped him;--had 'spared him', as she had told her friend.
Certainly she had then been swayed by some feeling that it would be
ungenerous in her to seize greedily the first opportunity he had
given her. But he had again made an effort. He surely would not
have sent her the ring had he not intended her to regard him as
her lover. When she received the ring her heart had beat very
high. Then she had sent that little note, saying that she would
keep it till she could give it to his wife. When she wrote that
she had intended that the ring should be her own. And other things
pressed upon her mind.
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