"I know that I have been hurried and sudden," he said,--purposely passing by her last assurance; "and I do feel that you have a right to resent the seeming assurance of such haste. But in our case, dearest, the interests of so many are concerned, the doubts and fears, the well-being, and even the future conduct of all our friends are so bound up by the result, that I had hoped you would have pardoned that which would otherwise have been unpardonable." Oh heavens;--had it not been for Daniel Thwaite, how full of grace, how becoming, how laden with flattering courtesy would have been every word that he had uttered to her! "But," he continued, "if it really be that you cannot love me--" "Oh, Lord Lovel, pray ask of me no further question." "I am bound to ask and to know,--for all our sakes." Then she rose quickly to her feet, and with altered gait and changed countenance stood over him. "I am engaged," she said, "to be married--to Mr. Daniel Thwaite." She had told it all, and felt that she had told her own disgrace. He rose also, but stood mute before her. This was the very thing of which they had all warned him, but as to which he had been so sure that it was not so! She saw it all in his eyes, reading much more there than he could read in hers. She was degraded in his estimation, and felt that evil worse almost than the loss of his love. For the last three weeks she had been a real Lovel among the Lovels. That was all over now. Let this lawsuit go as it might, let them give to her all the money, and make the title which she hated ever so sure, she never again could be the equal friend of her gentle relative, Earl Lovel. Minnie would never again spring into her arms, swearing that she would do as she pleased with her own cousin. She might be Lady Anna, but never Anna again to the two ladies at the rectory. The perfume of his rank had been just scented, to be dashed away from her for ever. "It is a secret at present," she said, "or I should have told you sooner. If it is right that you should repeat it, of course you must." "Oh, Anna!" "It is true." "Oh, Anna, for your sake as well as mine this makes me wretched indeed!" "As for the money, Lord Lovel, if it be mine to give, you shall have it." "You think then it is that which I have wanted?" "It is that which the family wants, and I can understand that it should be wanted. As for myself,--for mamma and me,--you can hardly understand how it has been with us when we were young. You despise Mr. Thwaite,--because he is a tailor." "I am sure he is not fit to be the husband of Lady Anna Lovel."