Was it wise and kind to ask him to wait , to bind him by any promise , or even to put into words the love and honour she felt for him ? No ; it would be more generous to make the sacrifice alone , and spare him the pain of hope deferred . He was young ; he would forget ; and she would do her duty better , perhaps , if no impatient lover waited for her . With eyes that saw but dimly , and a hand that lingered on the stem he had stripped of thorns , she laid the half-blown flower by the rose , and asked herself if even the little bud might be worn . It looked very poor and pale beside the others ; yet being in the self-sacrificing mood which real love brings , she felt that even a small hope was too much to give , if she could not follow it up with more . As she sat looking sadly down on the symbols of an affection that grew dearer every moment , she listened half unconsciously to the murmur of voices in the adjoining room . Open windows , thin partitions , and the stillness of summer twilight made it impossible to help hearing , and in a few moments more she could not refrain ; for they were talking of John . ` So nice of Ludmilla to bring us all bottles of real German cologne ! Just what we need after this tiring day ! Be sure John has his ! He likes it so ! ' ` Yes , mother . Did you see him jump up when Alice ended her oration ? He 'd have gone to her if I had n't held him back . I do n't wonder he was pleased and proud . I spoilt my gloves clapping , and quite forgot my dislike of seeing women on platforms , she was so earnest and unconscious and sweet after the first moment . ' ` Has he said anything to you , dear ? ' ` No ; and I guess why . The kind boy thinks it would make me unhappy . It would n't .
But I know his ways ; so I XXXXX , and hope all will go well with him . '
Has bring brings deferred held make put said saw wait