Supposing she had made a mistake about the young fellow's feeling for her.

Such things happened with girls sometimes.

Supposing--no, it was better to keep silence for the present.

If things turned out well, it would be time enough to tell Nelly.

If things turned out well! What, after all, were five years?
To the General, for whom the wheel of the days and the years had been turning giddily fast and ever faster these many years back, five years counted for little.