Even that soft tumult of agitated breath could not alter that impression.

When Mrs.Gordon spoke again her words seemed to echo back in her own ears, as if she had spoken in an empty room.
"Dorothy Fair," said she, with a kind of solemn authority, "neither I nor any other human being can look into your heart and see why you do this; and you owe it to my son, who has your solemn promise, and to your father, whose only child you are, to speak.

If you are sick, say so; if at the last minute you have a doubt as to your affection for Burr, say so.

My son will keep his promise to you with his life, but he will not force himself upon you against your wishes.

You need fear nothing; but you must either speak and give us your reason for this, or get up and put on your wedding-veil and your shoes, and come down, where they have been waiting over an hour.