"May!" she said, and she laid a detaining hand on her niece's arm.
"What, Aunt Lena?"
"If he liked, he could repel her, make her dislike him! If he liked he could make her refuse to marry him! You understand what I mean? He must know this now. The idea will be in his mind. He'll think it over. But I've no hope. He won't act on it. He'll only think of it as a temptation that he must put aside."
May did not answer.
"He could," said Lady Dashwood; "but he won't. He thinks himself pledged. And he isn't even in love with her. He isn't even infatuated for the moment!"
"You can't be sure."
"I am sure," said Lady Dashwood.
"How?" And now May turned back and listened for an answer with downcast eyes.
"I asked him a question—which he refused to answer. If he were in love he would have answered it eagerly. Why, he would have forced me to listen to it."
May Dashwood moved away from her aunt. "Still—they are engaged," she said. "They are engaged—that is settled."