It is also plain to me that you would rather not hear me," he said, after a moment.
"Please do not say it," she entreated, and he saw the little hope that he had been nourishing dashed away.
"I did not dream until a few moments ago that you had discerned my love for you, Miss Ridge, but I am not sorry that I have been so transparent.
How you have guessed my secret I cannot imagine.

I tried to keep it from you," he said, as if he had wounded her.

"Perhaps your brother told you." She was on the point of telling him that Hugh was not her brother, but something checked the impulse and she could only answer by shaking her head.
"You told me that you expect to marry another man, but that has not kept me from telling you that I love you, nor will it prevent me from trying to win your love.

Pride, if nothing else, has kept my lips sealed, for what right have I to ask any woman to share my lot?
In sheer humiliation I must tell you that my life looks like a failure to me.

I have a hard struggle ahead of me.