wrong to keep him in suspense. He had better turn his thoughts
elsewhere while he is young enough to begin again.'

'It might save him from marrying some mere fine lady.'

'That will never be, whatever woman he chooses will--' She could not
go on, but presently cleared her voice--'No; I should like to leave
him quite free. I was less his choice than his father's; and, though
I thought we should have been very happy, it does not seem to be the
leading of Heaven. I am so far his inferior in cleverness, and
everything attractive, and have been made so like his elder sister,
that it might not have been best for him. I want him to feel that,
in beginning afresh, he is doing me no injury; and then in time,
whenever I come home, it may be such a friendship as there was
between our elders. That is what I try to look forward to,--no, I
don't think I look forward to anything. Good night, Aunt Melicent
--I am so glad you like him!'

In this mind Mary met Lord Ormersfield. The delay had been an
advantage, for he was less irritated, and she had regained self-
possession. Her passage had been taken, and this was an argument
that told on the Earl, though he refused to call it irrevocable. He
found that there was no staggering her on the score of the life that
awaited her; she knew more on that subject than he did, had
confidence in her father, and no dread of Rosita; and she was too
much ashamed and grieved at the former effect of his persuasions to
attend to any more of a like description. He found her sense of duty
more stubborn than he had anticipated, and soon had no more to say.
She might carry it too far; but the principle was sound, and a father
could not well controvert it. He had designed the rupture with Louis