"Who is the girl ?" asked the Earl.
"You heard him say that I was not to tell." "Has she got money ?" "I believe she will have a great deal." "Then she is a great fool for her pains," said the Earl, shambling off again.
Lady Mabel spent the greater part of the afternoon alone, endeavouring to recall to her mind all that she had said to Frank Tregear, and questioning herself as to the wisdom and truth of her own words.

She had intended to tell the truth,--but hardly perhaps the whole truth.

The life which was before her,--which it was necessary that she should lead,--seemed to her to be so difficult! She could not clearly see her way to be pure and good and feminine, and at the same time wise.

She had been false now;--so far false that she had told her friend that she had never been in love.

But she was in love;--in love with him, Frank Tregear.