He wanted something more--he wanted love in return, although he knew she did not love him; and he was dissatisfied.

It is not exactly pleasant, perhaps, to find the woman you love and are about to marry as cold as an iceberg--to see her shrink at your approach, and avoid you on all possible occasions.

It is rather hard, no doubt, to put up with the loose touch of cold fingers for your warmest caress, and heavy sighs in answer to your most loving speeches.
Sir Ronald had promised to be content without love; but he was not, and was huffish and offended, and savagely jealous of Reginald Stanford and all the hated past.
So the baronet's wooing was on the whole rather gloomy, and depressing to the spirits, even of the lookers-on; and Kate was failing away once more to a pale, listless shadow, and Sir Ronald was in a state of perpetual sulkiness.
But the bridal-cakes and bridal-dresses were making, and the December days were slipping by, one by one, bringing the fated time near.

Miss Danton still zealously and unweariedly continued her mission of love.

No weather kept her indoors, no pleadings of her future husband were strong enough to make her give up one visit for his pleasure or accommodation.
"Let me alone, Sir Ronald Keith," she would answer, wearily, and a little impatiently; "it will not be for long.