And she was afraid.
She had a moment of absolute panic as she mounted into the high cart.

He handed her up, and his grasp, close and firm, seemed to her eloquent of that deadly resolution with which he mastered her.
For the first half-mile he said nothing whatever, being fully occupied with the animal he was driving--a skittish young mare impatient of restraint.
Doris on her side sat in unbroken silence, enduring the strain with a set face, dreading the moment when he should have leisure to speak.
He was evidently in no hurry to do so.

Or was it possible that he found some difficulty in choosing his words?
At length he turned his head and spoke.
"I secured this interview," he said, "because there is an important point which I want to discuss with you." "What is it ?" She nerved herself to meet his look, but her eyes fell before its steady mastery almost instantly.
"About our wedding," he said in his calm, deliberate voice.

"I should like to have the day fixed." Her heart gave a great thump of dismay.
"Do you really mean to hunt me down then and--and marry me against my will ?" she said, almost panting out the words.
Caryl turned his eyes back to the mare.
"I mean to marry you--yes," he said.

"I think you forget that you accepted me of your own accord." "I was mad!" she broke in passionately.
"People in love are never wholly sane," he remarked cynically.
"I was never in love with you!" she cried.