And yet if she were to be silent how could she forgive herself?
"The Duke certainly ought to know at once," said she, repeating her words merely that she might gain some time for thinking, and pluck up courage to declare her purpose, should she resolve on betraying the secret.
"If you tell him now, I will never forgive you," said Lady Mary.
"I am bound in honour to see that your father knows a thing which is of such vital importance to him and to you.

Having heard all this I have no right to keep it from him.

If Mr.Tregear really loves you"-- Lady Mary smiled at the doubt implied by this suggestion--"he ought to feel that for your sake there should be no secret from your father." Then she paused a moment to think.

"Will you let me see Mr.
Tregear myself, and talk to him about it ?" To this Lady Mary at first demurred, but when she found that in no other way could she prevent Mrs.Finn from going at once to the Duke and telling him everything, she consented.

Under Mrs.Finn's directions she wrote a note to her lover, which Mrs.Finn saw, and then undertook to send it, with a letter from herself, to Mr.
Tregear's address in London.