There was another long silence and then, feeling extremely nervous, I murmured haltingly, 'I—I—wonder if you missed me when I was away nursing my great sick aunt—I—I—mean my sick great-aunt. Did—did—the time seem long?'
'I—I'm not quite sure,' he stammered, obviously as ill at ease as myself. 'You see, to be perfectly frank, Miss Warrington, I was at the time in love as far as I believe, and it seems a confused period.'
I waited for him to continue, my eyes discreetly lowered. As, however, he did not go on, I raised them again.
'Yes?' I said encouragingly.
'That's all,' he replied. He looked so embarrassed and unhappy, and wore such an imploring expression I realized that now or never I must come to his relief.
I laid down my knitting and leaned forward. 'Mr. Rawlings,' I said impressively—'or, shall I say William—I have known of the state of your feelings towards me for some time now.'
He raised his head, and there was no disguising the look of hope in his eye. 'Do you really mean that?' he asked eagerly.
I nodded. 'I want to tell you not to be afraid. However harsh I once seemed to you, the sight of your devotion and self-sacrifice has touched me.'
'Devotion—self-sacrifice,' he murmured in a wondering tone.
'As such do I regard them, William. But they have reaped their reward. I … how shall I tell you … it is so difficult …'