He seemed to doubt whether he had heard her aright.
"You can never be my wife ?" "Never!" "Why ?" There was no answer.

She was incapable of telling him a falsehood.

She was ashamed to tell him the truth.
He stooped over her, and suddenly possessed himself of her hand.

Holding her hand firmly, he stooped a little lower; searching for the signs which might answer him in her face.

His own face darkened slowly while he looked.