It is a question of time--only a question of time!" So brooded Elizabeth in her heart, madded with malicious envy and passionate jealousy.

She loved this man, Owen Davies, as much as she could love anybody; at the least, she dearly loved the wealth and station of which he was the visible centre, and she hated the sister whom he desired.

If she could only discredit that sister and show her to be guilty of woman's worst crime, misplaced, unlegalised affection, surely, she thought, Owen would reject her.
She was wrong.

She did not know how entirely he desired to make Beatrice his wife, or realise how forgiving a man can be who has such an end to gain.

It is of the women who already weary them and of their infidelity that men are so ready to make examples, not of those who do not belong to them, and whom they long for night and day.