The project has been dear to me ever since you were a child.

When I again broached it to Malcolm a fortnight or more since I feared from his manner that he was averse to the scheme.

I had tried several times to speak to him about it, but he warded me off, and when I did speak, I feared that he was not inclined to it." "Yes," interrupted the headstrong girl, apparently bent upon destroying both of us.

"He pretended that he did not wish to marry me.

He said he wished me to give a sham consent for the purpose of gaining time till we might hit upon some plan by which we could change your mind.