Some five or
six she had received, and in each case had replied decisively, her
mind admitting no doubt. As when to her astonishment, she heard the
frank and large confession of Trafford Romaine; the answer was an
inevitable--No! To Arnold Jacks she could not reply thus promptly.
Relying on the easy terms of their intercourse, she told him the
truth; and now she saw that no form of answer could be less
discreet.
For about a year she had thought of Arnold as one who _might_ offer
her marriage; any girl in her position would have foreseen that
possibility. After every opportunity which he allowed to pass, she
felt relieved, for she had no reply in readiness. The thought of
accepting him was not at all disagreeable; it had even its
allurements; but between the speculation and the thing itself was a
great gap for the leaping of mind and heart. Her relations with him
were very pleasant, and she would have been glad if nothing had ever
happened to disturb them.
When her father suggested this long journey in Arnold's company, she
hesitated. In deciding to go, she said to herself that if nothing
resulted, well and good; if something did, well and good also. She
would get to know Arnold better, and on that increase of
acquaintance must depend the outcome, as far as she was concerned.
She was helped in making up her mind by a little thing that
happened. There came to her one day a letter from Odessa; on opening
it, she found only a copy of verses, with the signature "P.
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