Granville was walking up and down the verandah in a state of suppressed excitement, longing to see the flutter of her skirt in the doorway, yet conscious that her manner to him since the episode of the avalanche had been a tacit reproof. How stupid he had been to frighten her so; and yet, although he was not a vain man, he could not pretend to think that she had been very angry with him. She had permitted his embrace, and that from a girl of her stamp was a sufficient avowal of the state of her feelings. His honour as well as his inclination required that he should make a definite claim to her affection, and if Catherine had ventured to come down that evening he would have done so. But her absence gave him time for reflection, and as the wave of emotion subsided, he realised how fatal such a step would be to his career. He was an extremely ambitious man, and success to him would involve either a long celibacy, or a rich marriage. Hitherto his intellect had been developed at the expense of his affections, and except for his warm attachment to his sister, and a loyal friendship for Lord Mayne, his heart had remained untouched. He had dallied with the idea of a marriage with Blanche, but had not regarded it with much seriousness; from a worldly point of view it would certainly be advantageous, but, on the whole, he preferred the independence of the bachelor state. He remained on cordial terms with the heiress, and awaited the development of affairs without the least impatience, only laughing at his sister’s frequent hints as to Lady Blanche’s inclination for him. Perhaps, little as he suspected it, he was all the while guided by his own nobility of heart, which withheld him from the sacrilege of a loveless marriage. And would his heart now vindicate its authority over his intellect and triumph over the closely-laid schemes, the absorbing aims, the ceaseless industry of years? Supposing that Catherine should confirm her unspoken confession, was he prepared to relinquish for her his long-cherished ambitions, and resign himself to a life of insignificance and dependence? But in the midst of the conflict something happened which revealed to him the strength of his passion, and brought him to a swift decision. His sister at this moment came running to him, her face flushed with excitement, holding a letter and telegram in her hand. “What do you think?” she cried. “A letter from Blanche! Actually, she is at Interlaken, and wants to meet us there. She has been travelling with the Brookes, but they are going back through Paris, which she hates. The telegram has just come, too. She would like us to go there to-morrow, and bring her back with us.” Secretly Margaret was thinking, “What a stroke of luck! Could anything be more favourable to an explanation than all these circumstances?” But Granville’s first exclamation was not promising. “What a nuisance!” he cried.