Oh, what am I thinking of to be out so late!--but could not resist.

Come;" and she started for the house.
As they passed in at the door he said, in a low, deep tone, "You cannot put me off much longer, Stella." "No, Graydon," she whispered, hurriedly, and hastened to her room.
In his deep feeling he had not heard the suspicious sound in the grove, and Miss Wildmere's manner was only another expression of the strong constraint which he believed to be imposed upon her by her father's financial peril.

He felt bitterly disappointed, however.
Although irritated, he was yet rendered more than forgiving by the apparent truth that she had almost yielded to the impulses of her heart, in spite of grave considerations--and promises perhaps--to the contrary.
He was at a loss what to do, yet felt that the present condition of affairs was becoming intolerable.

Almost immediately upon his return from Europe he had written to Mr.Wildmere for permission to pay his addresses, and had received a brief and courteous reply.

The thought of again appealing to the father occurred to him, but was speedily dismissed with unconquerable repugnance.