This thought was in my mind as I strode along the river path,
filling me with that strange exhilaration which comes, I suppose, to
most of us when we face some climax in our lives.
But now the great question, How would she decide? leaped up and
began to haunt me. Because a woman smiles upon a man, he is surely
a most prodigious fool to flatter himself that she loves him,
therefore. How would she decide? Nay, indeed; what choice had she
between affluence and penury? Selwyn was wealthy and favoured by
her aunt, Lady Warburton, while as for me, my case was altogether
the reverse. And now I called to mind how Lisbeth had always
avoided coming to any understanding with me, putting me off on one
pretence or another, but always with infinite tact. So Fear came
to me, and Doubt began to rear its head; my step grew slower and
slower, till, reaching the Shrubbery gate, I leaned there in doubt
whether to proceed or not. Summoning up my resolution, however,
I went on, turning in the direction of the orchard, where I knew
she often sat of a morning to read or make a pretence of sewing.
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