She appeared not to hear this. "I suppose it can be lived down," she said. "To think of Uncle Joseph putting such a thing into the hands of those awful children!"
"But, Julia, you're eng----"
"Noble!" she said sharply.
"Well, you are eng----"
Julia drew herself up. "Different people mean different things by that word," she said with severity, like an annoyed school-teacher. "There are any number of shades of meaning to words; and if I used the word you mention, in writing home to the family, I may have used a certain shade and they may have thought I intended another."
"But, Julia----"
"Mr. Crum is a charming young man," she continued with the same primness. "I liked him very much indeed. I liked him very, very much. I liked him very, very----"
"I understand," he interrupted. "Don't say it any more, Julia."
"No; you don't understand! At first I liked him very much--in fact, I still do, of course--I'm sure he's one of the best and most attractive young men in the world. I think he's a man any girl ought to be happy with, if he were only to be considered by himself. I don't deny that. I liked him very much indeed, and I don't deny that for several days after he--after he proposed to me--I don't deny I thought something serious might come of it. But at that time, Noble, I hadn't--hadn't really thought of what it meant to give up living here at home, with all the family and everything--and friends--friends like you, Noble. I hadn't thought what it would mean to me to give all this up. And besides, there was something very important. At the time I wrote that letter mentioning poor Mr. Crum to the family, Noble, I hadn't--I hadn't----" She paused, visibly in some distress. "I hadn't----"
"You hadn't what?" he cried.
"I hadn't met his mother!"
Noble leaped to his feet. "Julia! You aren't--you aren't engaged?"
"I am not," she answered decisively. "If I ever was--in the slightest--I certainly am not now."
Poor Noble was transfigured. He struggled; making half-formed gestures, speaking half-made words. A rapture glowed upon him.
"Julia--Julia----" He choked. "Julia, promise me something. Will you promise me something? Julia, promise to promise me something."
"I will," she said quickly. "What do you want me to do?"
Then he saw that it was his time to speak; that this was the moment for him to dare everything and ask for the utmost he could hope from her.