Nothing can make any difference, because--I am engaged." She dared not look at his face, but she saw his hand clinch.
For an age neither spoke.
Then he turned his head slowly and looked at her.

His face was gray even to the lips.

With a strange swift pang at the heart, she saw how her few words had changed it.
"To whom ?" he said at last, hardly above a whisper.
"To Mr.Dare." "Not that man who has come to live at Vandon ?" "Yes." Another long silence.
"When was it ?" "Ten days ago." "Ten days ago," repeated Charles, mechanically, and his face worked.
"Ten days ago!" "It is not given out yet," said Ruth, hesitating, "because Mr.Alwynn does not wish it during Lord Polesworth's absence.

I never thought of any mistake being caused by not mentioning it.

I would not have come here if I had had the least idea that--" "You cannot mean to say that you had never seen that I--what I--felt for you ?" "Indeed I never thought of such a thing until two minutes before you said it.