Demurral n. Demur; delay in acting or deciding. "The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome."
... glance of speaking tenderness upon the Colonel, fingered for a moment the silvery curl that drooped upon her bosom, then looked again toward the mountains. Without preliminary or affectation or demurral she began, in rather thrilling and more deeply pitched tones to ... — Waifs and Strays - Part 1 • O. Henry