I have permitted you to go too far, to assume too much.

Now it ends, for I am going to marry Captain Le Gaire." She stood up straight before me, her head poised proudly, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright with excitement.

Never before had she appeared more attractive, and the love that swelled up into my heart seemed to choke all utterance.

Could I have mistaken everything?
Could I have deceived myself so completely?
Did these hard words represent her true purpose, or were they merely wrung out of her by stress of circumstance?
I could not determine, but I knew this--I could not turn about now and retreat.

If I did that I would certainly lose, while if I fought it out there was still hope.