Surprise had appeared the chief sentiment caused by his revelation.

Surprise was natural to such girlish inexperience; and after surprise had passed away, more tender feelings might arise, a latent tenderness unsuspected hitherto.
"I think a woman can scarcely help returning a man's love, if he is only as thoroughly in earnest as I am," Gilbert Fenton said to himself, as he sat under the walnut-trees trying to talk pleasantly, and to ignore the serious conversation which had preceded that careless talk.
He saw the Captain alone next day, and told him what had happened.

George Sedgewick listened to him with profound attention and a grave anxious face.
"She didn't reject you ?" he said, when Gilbert had finished his story.
"Not in plain words.

But there was not much to indicate hope.

And yet I cling to the fancy that she will come to love me in the end.