But, though he argued after this fashion with himself, the words of the old poet had had their efficacy. Whether the fault might be with the girl, or with himself, or with the untoward circumstances of the case, he determined to teach himself that he had lost her. He would never love another woman. Though the Earl's daughter could not be true to him, he, the suitor, would be true to the Earl's daughter. There might no longer be Romeos among the noble Capulets and the noble Montagues,--whom indeed he believed to be dead to faith; but the salt of truth had not therefore perished from the world. He would get what he could from this wretched wreck of his father's property,--obtain payment if it might be possible of that poor £500 for which he held the receipt,--and then go to some distant land in which the wisest of counsellors would not counsel him that he was unfit because of his trade to mate himself with noble blood. When he had proved his father's will he sent a copy of it up to the Countess with the following letter;-- Keswick, November 4, 183--. MY LADY, I do not know whether your ladyship will yet have heard of my father's death. He died here on the 24th of last month. He was taken with apoplexy on the 15th, and never recovered from the fit. I think you will be sorry for him. I find myself bound to send your ladyship a copy of his will. Your ladyship perhaps may have some account of what money has passed between you and him. I have none except a receipt for £500 given to you by him many years ago. There is also a bill against your ladyship for £71 18_s._ 9_d._ It may be that no more is due than this, but you will know. I shall be happy to hear from your ladyship on the subject, and am, Yours respectfully, DANIEL THWAITE. But he still was resolved that before he departed for the far western land he would obtain from Anna Lovel herself an expression of her determination to renounce him. CHAPTER XXVII. LADY ANNA'S LETTER.