It would be my happiness not merely to give him social position and wealth, but to make his every hope and wish mine also." All this had been said in the same natural manner in which they both usually spoke.

Miss De Voe had talked without apparent emotion.

But when she began the last remark, she had stopped looking at Peter, and had gazed off through the window at the green lawn, merely showing him her profile.

As a consequence she did not see how pale he suddenly became, nor the look of great suffering that came into his face.

She did not see this look pass and his face, and especially his mouth, settle into a rigid determination, even while the eyes remained sad.
Miss De Voe ended the pause by beginning, "Don't you"-- but Peter interrupted her there, by saying: "It is a very sad story to me--because I--I once craved love and sympathy." Miss De Voe turned and looked at him quickly.