Ellen composedly removed her wraps and overshoes , and followed her sister into the warm , fire-lighted room . She stood with her hand on the table and waited . She was looking very handsome herself , in her own grim , black-browed style . The new black velvet dress , with its train and V-neck , which she had made purposely for the party , became her stately , massive figure . She wore coiled around her neck the rich heavy necklace of amber beads which was a family heirloom . Her walk in the frosty air had stung her cheeks into a glowing scarlet . But her steel-blue eyes were as icy and unyielding as the sky of the winter night . She stood waiting in a silence which Rosemary could break only by a convulsive effort . `` Ellen , Mr. Meredith was here this evening . '' `` Yes ? '' `` And -- and -- he asked me to marry him . '' `` So I expected . Of course , you refused him ? '' `` No . '' `` Rosemary . '' Ellen clenched her hands and took an involuntary step forward . `` Do you mean to tell me that you accepted him ? '' `` No -- no . '' Ellen recovered her self-command . `` What DID you do then ? ''
`` I -- I asked him to give me a few days XXXXX think it over . ''
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