The whole history of human relationship is on my side there.

It's no opinion--it's a fact." Ransford stared at this frank remark, and Bryce went on, coolly and imperturbably, as if he had been discussing a medical problem.
"A man who takes a woman's first answer as final," he continued, "is, I repeat, a fool.

There are lots of reasons why a woman shouldn't know her own mind at the first time of asking.

She may be too surprised.

She mayn't be quite decided.