She had fancied from her father's tone in speaking that there had been some talk of a betrothal between him and his neighbour, and that Reuben might take her consent for granted.

The idea made her restless and unhappy.
She wished the ordeal of refusing him over.

She believed she was right in taking this step; but it was a hard one, and she was sometimes afraid of her own courage.

The more she thought of the matter the more she convinced herself that Reuben's love was one of compassion rather than true affection.

He had almost ceased his attentions in her mother's lifetime, and had been very reserved in his intercourse of late.