"Come in to breakfast, my girl," he said. "And as to Giles, use
your own mind. Whatever pleases you will please me."

"I am promised to him, father; and I cannot help thinking that in
honor I ought to marry him, whenever I do marry."

He had a strong suspicion that somewhere in the bottom of her
heart there pulsed an old simple indigenous feeling favorable to
Giles, though it had become overlaid with implanted tastes. But
he would not distinctly express his views on the promise. "Very
well," he said. "But I hope I sha'n't lose you yet. Come in to
breakfast. What did you think of the inside of Hintock House the
other day?"

"I liked it much."

"Different from friend Winterborne's?"

She said nothing; but he who knew her was aware that she meant by
her silence to reproach him with drawing cruel comparisons.

"Mrs. Charmond has asked you to come again--when, did you say?"

"She thought Tuesday, but would send the day before to let me know
if it suited her." And with this subject upon their lips they
entered to breakfast.

Tuesday came, but no message from Mrs. Charmond. Nor was there
any on Wednesday. In brief, a fortnight slipped by without a