That very night he made up his mind to risk his fortunes by speaking to Diana.

It was no easy matter for the young man to bring himself to do so, for cool, bold, and fluent as he was on ordinary occasions, the fever of love rendered him shy and nervous.

The looks of Diana acted on his spirits as the weather does on a barometer.
A smile made him jocund and hilarious, a frown abashed him almost to gloom.

And in the April weather of her presence he was as variable as a weather-cock.

It is, therefore, little to be wondered at that one ordinarily daring should tremble to ask a question which might be answered in the negative.