"I do not know," she said.
He also was silent for a while before he spoke again.

He ceased to poke with his stick, and got up from his chair, and stood a little apart from her, not looking at her even yet.
"I see," he said at last.

"I understand.

Well, Miss Rowley, I quite perceive that I cannot press my suit any further now.

But I shall not despair altogether.