And she would have gone farther if cross-questioned, and have declared that she regarded him already as her lord and master.

But now she had not a word to say to him.

All she knew was that he had now pledged himself to her, and that she intended to keep him to his pledge.

"May I not have one word," he said,--"one word ?" What could he want with a word more?
thought Florence.

Her silence now was as good as any speech.