But on the morrow Elspie kept out of the way of Philip:

And at the evening seat, when he took her hand by the alders,

Drew it back, saying, almost peevishly,

No, Mr. Philip,

I was quite right, last night; it is too soon, too sudden.

What I told you before was foolish perhaps, was hasty.

When I think it over, I am shocked and terrified at it.

Not that at all I unsay it; that is, I know I said it,

And when I said it, felt it. But oh, we must wait, Mr. Philip!

We mustn’t pull ourselves at the great key-stone of the centre: