A violent cough, which appeared to rend his chest, prevented him from answering immediately.

Surely her conscience troubled her, for on his not answering immediately she said, Do you presume to disbelieve me?

Lorie drew in a deep breath, not answering immediately, and then she replied by turning his own question back on him.

But here Celia entered, blooming from a walk in the garden, and the greeting with her delivered Mr. Brooke from the necessity of answering immediately.