"I am not married yet. I shall appeal to Aunt Whately, and if she
has a woman's heart she will not sanction the marriage."

"You will find that because she has a woman's heart, and a Baron's
heart, she will sanction it and insist upon it."

"We shall see," replied the girl, turning to go to her room.

"Louise, it is my wish that you should put your things in order to
be packed hastily, if need be."

Miss Lou made no answer.




CHAPTER IX

PARALYZED WITH SHAME


So far from obeying her aunt's injunctions, Miss Lou sat down by her
window, but she did not note the smiling spring landscape over which
the western sun was throwing its long, misty rays. Tears so blurred
her eyes and blinded her vision that she could scarcely see at all.
At last she was aroused by the crunching of wheels, and became aware
that Mrs. Whately had arrived. From what she knew of this aunt she
had a good deal of hope from her appeal, for Mrs. Whately had always
seemed a kind-hearted woman. True, she had been over-indulgent to
her son, and, in her blind idolatry of this only child, blind to his