'Listen to me, dearest. It is true that I promised to be your brother,
and I will not break my word unless I break it by your own sanction. I
did promise to be your brother, but I did not know then how fondly I
should come to love you. Your father, when I told him of this, bade me
not to be hasty; but I am hasty, and I haven't known how to wait. Tell
me that I may come at Christmas for my answer, and I will not say a
word to trouble you till then. I will be your brother, at any rate till
Christmas.'

'Be my brother always.'

A black cloud crossed his brow as this request reached his ears. She
was looking anxiously into his face, watching every turn in the
expression of his countenance. 'Will you not let it wait till
Christmas?' he asked.

She thought it would be cruel to refuse this request, and yet she knew
that no such waiting could be of service to him. He had been awkward in
his love-making, and was aware of it. He should have contrived this
period of waiting for himself; giving her no option but to wait and
think of it. He should have made no proposal, but have left her certain
that such proposal was coming. In such case she must have waited and if
good could have come to him from that, he might have received it. But,
as the question was now presented to her, it was impossible that she
should consent to wait. To have given such consent would have been
tantamount to receiving him as her lover. She was therefore forced to
be cruel.

'It will be of no avail to postpone my answer when I know what it must
be. Why should there be suspense?'