Those others had, as it were, a right to make fools of themselves.

It had seemed so natural that the young men of her own class should dissipate their fortunes and their reputations by every kind of extravagance! Her father had done so, and she had never even ventured to hope that her brother would not follow her father's example.

But Tregear, if he gave way to such follies as these, would soon fall headlong into a pit from which there would be no escape.

And if he did fall, she knew herself well enough to be aware that she could not stifle, nor even conceal, the misery which this would occasion her.

As long as he stood well before the world she would be well able to assume indifference.