Could it be true?
Was it not possible that he had made some mistake?
that he had misunderstood?
A burning desire came upon him to know, to know before he went, and upon the forceful impulse of that moment he did what at any other time would have filled him with horror.

He asked her; the words broke from his lips; he could not help them.
"Is it true," he said, with something like a groan, "can it be true that you--_you_ are really going to marry that man ?" Stella sat up and looked at him.

So she had guessed aright.

She made no pretence of fencing with him, or of pretending that she did not know to whom he referred.
"Are you mad to ask me such a thing ?" she asked, with a strange break in her voice.
"I am sorry," he began.
She stamped her foot upon the ground.
"Oh!" she said, "it hurts me, it hurts--from my father I understood, but that you should think it possible that I would sell myself--I tell you that it hurts," and as she spoke two large tears began to roll from her lovely pleading eyes.
"Then you mean that you refused him ?" "What else ?" "Thank you.

Of course, I have no right to interfere, but forgive me if I say that I cannot help feeling glad.