Without him her life seemed a dreary prospect, yet the more she looked at his proposal the more she feared to accept it--so wild as it was, so vague, so venturesome.

She had promised Humphrey Gould, and it was only his assumed faithlessness which had led her to treat that promise as nought.

His solicitude in bringing her these gifts touched her; her promise must be kept, and esteem must take the place of love.

She would preserve her self-respect.

She would stay at home, and marry him, and suffer.
Phyllis had thus braced herself to an exceptional fortitude when, a few minutes later, the outline of Matthaus Tina appeared behind a field-gate, over which he lightly leapt as she stepped forward.