"I gave you full warning that I would do as I chose."
"You said you would probably never marry, and you said it so positively that I pretty well believed it."
Isabel was silent an instant.
"No one can be more surprised than myself at my present intention."
"You told me that if I heard you were engaged, I was not to believe it," Caspar went on. "I heard it twenty days ago from yourself, but I remembered what you had said. I thought there might be some mistake, and that is partly why I came."
"If you wish me to repeat it by word of mouth, that is soon done. There is no mistake at all."
"I saw that as soon as I came into the room."
"What good would it do you that I shouldn't marry?" Isabel asked, with a certain fierceness.
"I should like it better than this."
"You are very selfish, as I said before."
"I know that. I am selfish as iron."
"Even iron sometimes melts. If you will be reasonable I will see you again."
"Don't you call me reasonable now?"
"I don't know what to say to you," she answered, with sudden humility.
"I sha'n't trouble you for a long time," the young man went on. He made a step towards the door, but he stopped. "Another reason why I came was that I wanted to hear what you would say in explanation of your having changed your mind."
Isabel's humbleness as suddenly deserted her.
"In explanation? Do you think I am bound to explain?"
Caspar gave her one of his long dumb looks.
"You were very positive. I did believe it."
