Her first feeling was one of triumph,--as it must be in such a position to any woman who has already acknowledged to herself that she loves the man who then asks her to be his wife.

She looked up into Captain Aylmer's face, and his eye almost quailed beneath hers.

Even should he be triumphant, he was not perfectly assured that his triumph would be a success.
"Shall what be all one ?" she asked.
"Shall it be your house and my house?
Can you tell me that you will love me and be my wife ?" Again she looked at him, and he repeated his question.

"Clara, can you love me well enough to take me for your husband ?" "I can," she said.

Why should she hesitate, and play the coy girl, and pretend to any doubts in her mind which did not exist there?
She did love him, and had so told herself with much earnestness.