"And if you did love him?"
Again she hesitated, before making up her mind to speak.
"Then it would depend on whether or not he loved me."
She had given him his chance. The word he had never uttered must come now or never. For an instant he seemed about to seize his opportunity; but when he actually spoke it was only to say:
"Would you marry me?"
"No." She gave her answer firmly.
"No?"
"No."
"Why?"
She shrugged her shoulders and threw out her hands, but said nothing in words.