‘I know you have. I fear I have not been all that I might have been to you. Forgive me!’ He refrained, and she noticed it, from even speaking of the other side of the question--from saying, ‘You have deliberately set yourself against every plan and project of mine, until at last, in very self-defence, I have been obliged to be silent, and to keep my hopes and wishes to myself.’ This behaviour was generous, and she knew it was. It appeared that Sebastian did love her, and prized her goodwill. The emotion she felt was not an unpleasant one. And then, as he certainly would marry Helena, she put her hand on his shoulder and said, ‘I consent, Sebastian, though it is a trial. No; I don’t mean that I disapprove of Helena. I know a more lovely girl could not easily be found. It is her--well, never mind! Are you going to be married soon?’ ‘Thank you! I thank you from my very heart!’ he exclaimed. ‘My great fear was lest you should be displeased. Shall we be married soon? I do not know in the least. I am obliged to go abroad before the autumn, and if I can persuade Helena, we will be married before then; but I am not sure that I can. She is not by any means inclined to rush into my arms. She is very much changed. She used to be so impulsive, and to betray her feelings so easily; and now, I assure you, her dignity has already almost overwhelmed me more than once.’ ‘When you are married, or, at any rate, when you return from abroad, you will want the Oakenrod to yourselves,’ she suggested graciously. ‘My dear mother, I hope you will stay in it exactly as long as you feel disposed to do so. Helena wishes very much to please you,’ he added, drawing a bow at a venture. ‘Does she? When next you see her give her my--my love. Perhaps I had better go and call upon her.’ ‘Or I will bring her over here to spend the day with you.’ ‘Yes, perhaps that might be better. Has she given up any of her old notions yet?’ ‘We both find that our views on these points are considerably modified, so that we are quite able to meet each other and agree together.’ ‘I am glad to hear it. I think it must be getting late.’ ‘It is indeed. You must excuse me, mother. I seem to have found more than a wife to-day,’ he added, kissing her hands one after the other. ‘Good night.’ Mrs. Mallory drew her son’s face down, and kissed him, strangely moved. ‘Good night, my son. God bless you!’ Sebastian left her. The conquest was won. From that day Augusta Mallory was a happier woman than she had been. There was always a certain distance about the intercourse between her and her son and his family, but there was amity and concord; and later, when Helena won triumphs by her beauty, grace, and spirit, which no money could ever have purchased for her, and when Mrs. Mallory heard on all sides of her beautiful and charming daughter-in-law, she began to think that after all Sebastian had not done so badly, even in a worldly wise point of view; and her respect for him increased accordingly.