Elisabeth would be very unlikely ever to forgive her for her treatment of Tim; even kindly hearted Major Durward could not but feel sore about it; and since Garth had not asked her to marry him--and showed no disposition to do any such thing--they would almost certainly fail to understand or sympathize with her point of view.
Sara sighed as she dropped her missive into the letter-box.

It meant an end to the pleasant and delightful friendship which had come into her life just at the time when Patrick Lovell's death had left it very empty and desolate.
Two days of suspense ensued while she restlessly awaited Tim's reply.
Then, on the third day, he came himself, his eyes incredulous, his face showing traces of the white night her letter had cost him.
He was very gentle with her.

There was no bitterness or upbraiding, and he suffered her explanation with a grave patience that hurt her more than any reproaches he could have uttered.
"I believed it was only I who cared, Tim," she told him.

"And so I felt free to give you what you wanted--to be your wife, if you cared to take me, knowing I had no love to give.

I thought"-- she faltered a little--"that I might as well make _someone_ happy! But now that I know he loves me as I love him, I couldn't marry any one else, could I ?" "And are you going to marry him--this man you love ?" "I don't know.