And if he did, what was she to say to him?
She felt like an actress who may in a few minutes be called on the stage, without knowing her part.

This was painfully unlike love, and the poor girl feared it would be her conscientious duty to dismiss him--most gently, of course; and perhaps, should he be impetuous and picturesque, relent enough to let him hope, and so bring about a happy postponement of the question.

Her father had been to a neighbouring town on business with Mr.Tinman.He knocked at her door at midnight; and she, in dread of she knew not what--chiefly that the Hour of the Scene had somehow struck--stepped out to him trembling.

He was alone.

She thought herself the most childish of mortals in supposing that she could have been summoned at midnight to declare her sentiments, and hardly noticed his gloomy depression.