He had felt so sure that once he had made up his own mind she would eagerly say "Yes!" Often, during the last few days, he had told himself, with a kind of mirthless chuckle, that _he_ was not going to be "caught"; but when, at last, he had made up his mind that Bubbles would make him, if not an ideal, then a very suitable, wife, it seemed strange indeed that she was not eager to "nail him." That she was not exactly eager to do so was apparent, even to him.
Calling Span sharply to her, the girl turned round, and began making her way towards the house again; finally she disappeared with Span in the direction of the servants' quarters.
James Tapster, walking on by himself, began to feel unaccountably frightened.

He asked himself, uneasily, almost uttering the words aloud in his agitation, whether, after all, he had been "caught"; and whether Bubbles was only "making all this fuss" in order to "bring him to heel"?
But two could play at that game.

He toyed seriously, or so he believed, with the idea of ordering his motor and just "bolting"; but of course he did nothing of the kind.

The more Bubbles hung back, the more he wanted her; her coldness stung him into something nearer ardour than he had ever felt.
And Bubbles?
Bubbles felt annoyed, uneasy, even obscurely hurt.

It often happens that an offer of marriage leaves a girl feeling lonely and oppressed.