You must not think, however, that I had been making love to Madge.

On the contrary, I again say, the thought had never entered my mind.

Neither at that time had I even suspected that she would listen to me upon the great theme.

I had in my self-analysis assigned many reasons other than love for my tenderness toward her; but when I was about to depart, and she impulsively gave me her hands, I, believing that I was grasping them for the last time, felt the conviction come upon me that she was dearer to me than all else in life.
"Do you want to tell me why my uncle has driven you from Haddon ?" she asked.
"He wished me to ask Dorothy to be my wife," I returned.
"And you ?" she queried.
"I did so." Instantly the girl withdrew her hands from mine and stepped back from me.
Then I had another revelation.

I knew what she meant and felt.