It never seemed to occur to him that my aversion could be for him.

He took my shrinking as maiden modesty, and vowed that he delighted in it, that I should have been far less desirable if I had not been so coy, and that he would be happier breaking down my barriers than if there had been none to break.
Finally he took a little case from his pocket, and out of it he produced a ring, the beauty of which would have delighted any happy girl.

It was set with an emerald of great size and beauty, of a heart-shape, surrounded by diamonds, and at the top a true-lovers' knot in diamonds.
He put it on my finger, saying that he had carried it about with him for a month or more, and that he had paid a pretty price for it.

It was an antique ring and the workmanship very beautiful, not like those made nowadays.
It occurred to me that he had been very sure of me.

But I said nothing while he put on the ring.
"And how soon will you marry me, Bawn ?" he asked.