"Oh, no;--not for a year," she replied hurriedly;--and he knew at once by her voice that she already dreaded this new wedlock. Whatever of anger he might before have felt for her was banished. She had brought herself by her ill-judgement,--by her ignorance, as she had confessed,--to a sad pass; but he believed that she was still worthy of his love.
"And now one other question, Alice;--but if you are silent, I will not ask it again. Can you tell me why you have again accepted your cousin's offer?"
"Because--," she said very quickly, looking up as though she were about to speak with all her old courage. "But you would never understand me," she said,--"and there can be no reason why I should dare to hope that you should ever think well of me again."

"Oh, no - not for a year," she replied hurriedly; and he knew at once by her voice that she already dreaded this new wedlock. Whatever anger he might have felt for her was banished. She had brought herself by her ill-judgement - by her ignorance - to a sad pass; but he believed that she was still worthy of his love.
"And now one other question, Alice; but if you are silent, I will not ask it again. Can you tell me why you have again accepted your cousin's offer?"
"Because-," she said very quickly, looking up as though she were about to speak with all her old courage. "But you would never understand me," she said, "and there can be no reason why you should ever think well of me again."
