By the time breakfast was ended I had really begun to think I must have dreamed the most unpleasant scene.
Yet I thought to myself that I must be guarded.

I must continue to be kind to her because she had no other friends, but all kindness shown to her must be of the true, cousinly type.
This morning, instead of lingering with her while she went through the conservatories, as had been my idle fashion, I went at once into Clare's room.

Coralie noticed the change, for her face grew pale as I quitted the room.
Some weeks passed without anything happening.

I went over to Harden Manor every day.

The sun never set without my seeing Agatha, and every day I loved her more and more.
She was so simple, so tender, so true; now that she had promised to be my wife, there was no idle coquetry about her, no affection of shyness.
She was simply perfect, and it seemed to me that by some wonderful miracle I had reached the golden land at last.
Then I began to agitate for an early marriage.