"Is there no hope for me ?" He heard himself begging for hope, and he heard also her firm answer: "None!" How he had always admired the outspokenness of Grizel.

Her "None!" was as splendidly decisive as of yore.
The conversation thus begun ran on in him, Tommy doing the speaking for both (though his lips never moved), and feeling the scene as vividly as if Grizel had really been present and Elspeth was not.
Elspeth was sitting opposite him.
"At least let me wait, Grizel," he implored.

"I don't care for how long; fix a time yourself, and I shall keep to it, and I promise never to speak one word of love to you until that time comes, and then if you bid me go I shall go.

Give me something to live for.

It binds you to nothing, and oh, it would make such a difference to me." Then Grizel seemed to reply gently, but with the firmness he adored: "I know I cannot change, and it would be mistaken kindness to do as you suggest.