He was not overjoyed—nor would she have expected him to be—but it was not uncommon for a lady, young or not, to delay giving an answer by a day, even two or three. And besides, he had her answer—the cool part of her was quite resolved that he could be content with it as he had required her to be content with his not-proposal until now.

"I am a woman of my word, Charles," she spoke softly, placatingly, though there was a glint of flint in her gaze, "and I gave my word that I would not accept another offer until I had refused that of the man who first asked me. It will be the work of but a day."