I could not stand any more suspense!" he added, with something like a sob in his voice.
Lois's heart gave one jump of fright, and then was quiet.

She thought, vaguely, that she was glad he had rushed into it at once, so that she need not keep up that terrible fencing, but she did not speak.

She had been sitting in a corner of the leather-covered sofa, and his excitement, as he stood looking at her, made her rise.
He grasped her hands in his, wringing them sharply as he spoke, not even noticing her little cry of pain, or her efforts to release herself.

"You know I love you,--you know it! Why haven't you let me tell you so?
Oh, Lois, how lovely you are to-night,--how happy we shall be!" He kissed one of her hands with a sudden savage passion that frightened her.

"Oh--don't," she said, shrinking back, and pulling her hands away from him.
He looked at her blankly a moment, but when he spoke again it was gently.
"Did I frighten you?
I didn't mean to; but you know I love you.