"Come, Caroline; am I wrong in supposing that now at least you must know your own feelings? Or shall I tell you again how dearly, how truly I love you?"
"No!—no!—no!"
"Answer me, then. In honest, plain, Christian sincerity, answer me; as a true woman should answer a true man. Do you love me?"
For a moment there was no answer.
"Well, I will not ask again. I will not torment you."
"Oh, Mr. Bertram! What am I to say? What would you have me say? Do not be so stern with me."
"Stern!"
"Well, are you not stern?" And coming up close to him, she looked into his face.
"Caroline," said he, "will you be my wife?"
"I will." It was a motion of the lips rather than a spoken word; but, nevertheless, he heard it. Fool that he was not to have heard it before in the beating of her heart; not to have seen it in the tear in her eye; not to have felt it in the warmth of her hand.