The young girl persuaded herself that she was glad Stephen had such a right to her hand as he had acquired (in her eyes) by the elopement.

She beguiled herself by saying, 'Perhaps if I had not so committed myself I might fall in love with Mr.Knight.' All this made the week of Knight's absence very gloomy and distasteful to her.

She retained Stephen in her prayers, and his old letters were re-read--as a medicine in reality, though she deceived herself into the belief that it was as a pleasure.
These letters had grown more and more hopeful.

He told her that he finished his work every day with a pleasant consciousness of having removed one more stone from the barrier which divided them.

Then he drew images of what a fine figure they two would cut some day.