"If you fail, she'll postpone it until you're able to provide more than just a roof, a chair, and a broom.

Her very words! Love must not prevent people from being practical, from her viewpoint.

So, as I say, she's waiting to discover the outcome." A corner of her mouth twisted up while she paused.

Then she concluded in a low voice, "And probably something else." Bryant had again fallen into study.

Imogene doubted if he had heard her added remark, and she could not divine from his countenance how fierce or in what direction his covered passion was beating.
"It will be too late," said he, suddenly and, as it seemed to her, irrelevantly.
Then she thought that she understood.
"He's going home in a few days, for the Christmas holidays," she stated.