To be sure, she was fiery angry with him, but it is better to be that way with a lover, than to pay no attention to him at all." This was a view of the case which had never struck Lawrence before, and although it was not very flattering to him, it was very comforting.

He felt that it was extremely likely that this young woman had been able to truthfully divine, in a case in which he had failed, the motives of another young woman.

Here was a further reason for congratulating himself that he had not written to Miss March.
"And as to the last part of the letter," said Annie, "you are not going under any cherry tree, or sycamore either, to be refused by her.
What she said to you was quite enough for a final answer, without any signing or sealing under trees, or anywhere else.

I think the best thing that can be done with this precious epistle is to tear it up." Lawrence was amused by the piquant earnestness of this decision.

"But what am I to do," he asked, "I can't let the matter rest in this unfinished and unsatisfactory condition." "You might write to her," said Annie, "and tell her that you have accepted what she said to you on Pine Top Hill as a conclusive answer, and that you now take back everything you ever said on the subject you talked of that day.