Then there came a week of very troubled existence,--of existence the more troubled because she had no one to whom to tell her trouble. As to putting confidence in her mother,--that idea never occurred to her. Her mother among her friends was the humblest of all. To tell her mother that she was going to be married was a matter of course, but she had never consulted her mother on the subject. And now, at the end of the week, she had almost resolved to break with the man without having intimated to any one that such was her intention. And what excuse had she? There was excuse enough to her own mind, to her own heart. But what excuse could she give to him or to the world? He was confident enough,--so confident as to vex her by his confidence. Though he had come to treat her with indifference, like a plaything, she was quite sure that he did not dream of having his marriage broken off. He was secured,--she was sure that this was his feeling,--by her love, by her ambition, by his position in the world. He could make her Lady Geraldine! Was it to be supposed that she should not wish to be Lady Geraldine? He could take what liberties he pleased without any danger of losing her! It was her conviction that such was the condition of his mind that operated the strongest in bringing her to her resolution. But she must tell some one. She must have a confidante. "Maude," she said one day, "I have made up my mind not to marry your uncle." "Cecilia!" "I have. No one as yet has been told, but I have resolved. Should I see him to-morrow, or next day, or the next, I shall tell him." "You are not in earnest?" "Is it likely that I should jest on such a subject;--or that if I had a mind to do so I should tell you? You must keep my secret. You must not tell your uncle. It must come to him from myself. At the present moment he does not in the least know me,--but he will." "And why? Why is there to be this break;--why to be these broken promises?" "I put it to yourself whether you do not know the why. How often have you made excuses for him? Why have the excuses been necessary? I am prepared to bear all the blame. I must bear it. But I am not prepared to make myself miserable for ever because I have made a mistake as to a man's character. Of course I shall suffer,--because I love him. He will not suffer much,--because he does not love me." "Oh, yes!" "You know that he does not," said Cecilia, shaking her head. "You know it. You know it. At any rate I know it. And as the thing has to be done, it shall be done quickly." There was much more said between the two girls on the subject, but Maude when she left her friend was sure that her friend was in earnest. CHAPTER II. SIR FRANCIS GERALDINE.