“You encouraged Mr. Coventry's addresses?”
“I am afraid I did not discourage them, as I wish I had. It is so hard to foresee every thing.”
“Pray do you remember the fifth day of last December?”
“Can I ever forget it?” (Redder.)
“Is it true that Mr. Coventry proposed for you, that day?”
“Yes.”
“And you accepted him.”
“No; no. Then he has told you so? How ungenerous! All I did was, I hesitated, and cried, and didn't say 'no,' downright—like a fool. Oh, papa, have pity on me, and save me.” And now she was pale.
Mr. Carden's paternal heart was touched by this appeal, but he was determined to know the whole truth. “You could love him, in time, I suppose?”
“Never.”