"Mamma knew it." And it did certainly seem to Mrs.Finn as though the mother had assented to this imprudent concealment.

When she endeavoured, in her own mind, to make excuse for her friend, she felt almost sure that the Duchess, with all her courage, had been afraid to propose to her husband that their daughter should marry a commoner without an income.

But in thinking of all that, there could now be nothing gained.

What ought she to do--at once?
The girl, in telling her, had exacted no promise of secrecy, nor would she have given any such promise; but yet she did not like the idea of telling the tale behind the girl's back.

It was evident that Lady Mary had considered herself to be safe in confiding her story to her mother's old friend.