And she had known that she had been successful.

She could tell herself with pride that her conduct towards him had been always such as would become a lady of high spirit and fine feeling.

She knew that she had deserved well of him, that in all her intercourse with him, with his uncle, and with his wife, she had given much and had taken little.

She was the last woman in the world to let a word on such a matter pass her lips; but not the less was she conscious of her merit towards him.

And she had been led to act as she had done by sincere admiration for the man.