Pierstonnowlearntforthefirsttimethatthewidowhadbeenvisitedbysuddenattacksofthissortnotinfrequentlyoflateyears。Theyweresaidtobeduetoanginapectoris，thelatterparoxysmshavingbeenthemostsevere。Shewasatthepresentmomentoutofpain，thoughweak，exhausted，andnervous。Shewouldnot，however，converseaboutherself，buttookadvantageofherdaughter’sabsencefromtheroomtobroachthesubjectmostinherthoughts。
Nocompunctionshadstirredherastheyhadhervisitorontheexpediencyofhissuitinviewofhisyears。HerfeverofanxietylestafterallheshouldnotcometoseeAviceagainhadbeennotwithoutaneffectuponherhealth；anditmadehermorecandidthanshehadintendedtobe。
’Troublesandsicknessraiseallsortsoffears，Mr。Pierston，’shesaid。’WhatIfeltonlyawishfor，whenyoufirstnamedit，Ihavehopedforagooddealsince；andIhavebeensoanxiousthat——thatitshouldcometosomething！Iamgladindeedthatyouarecome。’
’MywantingtomarryAvice，youmean，dearMrs。Pierston？’
’Yes——that’sit。Iwonderifyouarestillinthesamemind？Youare？