"Your grammar is faulty—tense is wrong—You should say 'I was to have married Mr. Shepler.' I'm fastidious about those little things, I confess."
"How can you jest?"
"I can't. Don't think this is any joke. He'll find out."
"Who will find out,—what, pray?"
"He will. He's already said he was afraid there might have been some nonsense between you and me, because we talked that evening at the Oldakers'. He told my grandfather he wasn't at all sure of you until that day I lost my money."
"Oh, I see—and of course you'd like your revenge—carrying me off from him just to hurt him."
"If you say that I'll hold you in my arms again." He started toward her. "I've loved you so, I tell you—all the time—all the time."
"Or perhaps it's a brutal revenge on me,—after thinking I'd only marry for money."
"I've loved you always, I tell you."
He came up to her, more gently now, and took up her hand to kiss it. He saw the ring.