She had read somewhere that high hopes fainted on warm hearthstones.

Mr.Tristram demolished these objections as ruthlessly as ducks peck their own ducklings if they have not seen them for a day or two.
Even when she was forced to become more explicit, it was at first impossible to Mr.Tristram to believe she would finally reject him.

But the knowledge, deep-rooted as a forest oak, that she had loved him devotedly could not at last prevail against the odious conviction that she was determined not to marry him.
"Then, in that case, you never loved me ?" "I do not love you now." "You are determined not to marry ?" "On the contrary, I hope to do so." Rachel's words took her by surprise.

She had no idea till that moment that she hoped anything of the kind.
"You prefer some one else.

That is the real truth." "I prefer several others." Mr.Tristram looked suspiciously at her.