"No," she answered, brokenly. "Are you sure you are not frozen—ears or cheeks or hands?"
"You won't marry him, Gertrude, and break my heart? Tell me you won't marry him."
"No, I won't."
"Tell me again."
"Shall I tell you everything?"
"If you have mercy for me as I have love for you."
"I ran away from him to-night. He came out with the directors and telegraphed he would be at the Springs in the afternoon for his answer, and—I ran away. He has his answer long ago and I would not see him."
"Brave girl!"
"Oh, I wasn't brave, I was a dreadful coward. But I thought——"
"What?"