Now I'm a master, instead of a man, won't you wait two years for me ?" "No," said Grace, archly.

Then, with a look that sent him to heaven, "Not two, but TWENTY, sooner than you should be unhappy, after all you and I--" The sentence was never completed.

She clapped one hand swiftly before her scarlet face, and ran away to hide, and think of what she had done.
It was full five minutes before she would bring her face under the eye of that young gossip in the drawing-room.
As for Henry, he received the blow full in his heart, and it quite staggered him.

He couldn't believe it at first; but when he realized it, waves and waves of joy seemed to rise inside him, and he went off in such a rapture he hardly trod the earth.
He went home, and kissed his mother, and told her, and she sympathized with him perforce, though she was jealous at bottom, poor thing.
The next day Grace received an unexpected visitor--Jael Dence.
Grace stared at sight of her, and received her very coldly.
"Oh, miss," said Jael, "don't look so at me that love you dearly;" and with this threw her arms round her neck, and kissed her.
Grace was moved by this; but felt uncomfortable, and even struggled a little, but in vain.

Jael was gentle, but mighty.