Gregory discovered on reaching home that Jemima's letter was still in his pocket.

And, therefore, much as he disliked the appearance of vacillation and weakness, he was obliged to be at the farmhouse before sunrise to post it.
"If I see her," Gregory said, "I shall only bow to her.

She shall see that I am a man, one who keeps his word." As to Jemima's letter, he had turned down one corner of the page, and then turned it back, leaving a deep crease.

That would show that he was neither accepted nor rejected, but that matters were in an intermediate condition.

It was a more poetical way then putting it in plain words.
Gregory was barely in time with his letter, for Waldo was starting when he reached the homestead, and Em was on the doorstep to see him off.
When he had given the letter, and Waldo had gone, Gregory bowed stiffly and prepared to remount his own pony, but somewhat slowly.