Through the wakeful hours of the night my mind dwelt on her last words.

That she should contemplate, under any circumstances, even the bare possibility of not marrying Ambrose, was, I am ashamed to say, a direct encouragement to certain hopes which I had already begun to form in secret.

The next day's mail brought me a letter on business.
My clerk wrote to inquire if there was any chance of my returning to England in time to appear in court at the opening of next law term.

I answered, without hesitation, "It is still impossible for me to fix the date of my return." Naomi was in the room while I was writing.

How would she have answered, I wonder, if I had told her the truth, and said, "You are responsible for this letter ?".