No faint heart ever won a fair lady, as he was well aware; he resolved, therefore, that his heart should not be faint, and that he would see whether the fair lady might not be won by becoming audacity.
"Mary," said he, stopping in the path--for they were now near the spot where it broke out upon the lawn, and they could already hear the voices of the guests--"Mary, you are unkind to me." "I am not aware of it, Mr Gresham; but if I am, do not you retaliate.
I am weaker than you, and in your power; do not you, therefore, be unkind to me." "You refused my hand just now," continued he.

"Of all the people here at Greshamsbury, you are the only one that has not wished me joy; the only one--" "I do wish you joy; I will wish you joy; there is my hand," and she frankly put out her ungloved hand.

"You are quite man enough to understand me: there is my hand; I trust you use it only as it is meant to be used." He took it in his and pressed it cordially, as he might have done that of any other friend in such a case; and then--did not drop it as he should have done.

He was not a St Anthony, and it was most imprudent in Miss Thorne to subject him to such a temptation.
"Mary," said he; "dear Mary! dearest Mary! if you did but know how I love you!" As he said this, holding Miss Thorne's hand, he stood on the pathway with his back towards the lawn and house, and, therefore, did not at first see his sister Augusta, who had just at that moment come upon them.

Mary blushed up to her straw hat, and, with a quick jerk, recovered her hand.