She cut him short with terse candour. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘a false report is in circulation. I am not yet engaged to be married to any one, if that is your meaning.’
Ladywell looked cheerful at this frank answer, and said tentatively, ‘Am I forgotten?’
‘No; you are exactly as you always were in my mind.’
‘Then I have been cruelly deceived. I was guided too much by appearances, and they were very delusive. I am beyond measure glad I came here to-day. I called at your house and learnt that you were here; and as I was going out of town, in any indefinite direction, I settled then to come this way. What a happy idea it was! To think of you now—and I may be permitted to—’
‘Assuredly you may not. How many times I have told you that!’
‘But I do not wish for any formal engagement,’ said Ladywell quickly, fearing she might commit herself to some expression of positive denial, which he could never surmount. ‘I’ll wait—I’ll wait any length of time. Remember, you have never absolutely forbidden my—friendship. Will you delay your answer till some time hence, when you have thoroughly considered; since I fear it may be a hasty one now?’
‘Yes, indeed; it may be hasty.’
‘You will delay it?’
‘Yes.’
‘When shall it be?’