He thought at times her color quickened a
little when he approached suddenly; he fancied that he
occasionally surprised a half-wistful, half-mirthful glance, but
was not sure. He knew that she was as well aware of his intentions
and wishes as if he had proclaimed them through a speaking-
trumpet. His only assured ground of comfort was that neither Mr.
Merriweather nor Mr. Hackley had yet won the coveted prize, though
they evidently were receiving far greater opportunities to push
their suit than he had been favored with.
At last his vacation was virtually at an end. But two more days
would elapse before he must be at his desk again in the city. And
now we will go back to the time when we found him that early
morning brooding over his prospects, remote from observation. What
should he do--propose by letter? "No," he said after much
cogitation. "I can see that little affected look of surprise with
which she would read my plain declaration of what she knows so
well. Shall I force a private interview with her? The very word
'force,' which I have unconsciously used, teaches me the folly of
this course.
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