"Yes," said the girl, whose composure returned as she saw that he was temporizing. "I am sorry."
"Well," said Alton quietly, "so am I—especially just now—but I did not come to talk to you about my injury."
Nellie Townshead appeared very collected as she glanced in his direction, for she had a good courage, and had been taught already that when an issue is unavoidable it is better to face it boldly.
"One would scarcely have fancied that was your object."
"No," said Alton very quietly. "Now I am just a plain bush rancher, and don't know how to put things nicely, but I don't know that there's any disrespect in a straight question, and I came to ask if you would marry me."
The girl was mistress of herself, and the man's naive directness was in a fashion reassuring. She was also, for a moment, very angry.
"It is a little sudden, is it not?" she said. "Did I ever give you any cause for believing that I would?"
"No," said Alton, "I don't think you did."
Nellie Townshead afterwards wondered a little at her composure and temerity, but she fancied she knew what had prompted the man, and, because it hurt her horribly, all the pride she had came to her assistance, and in place of embarrassment she was sensible of a desire to test him to the uttermost.
"Then," she said, "one should have a reason for asking such a question, and, at least, something to urge in support of it."