So far from dreading the judgments that would follow her disappearance, she felt a pride in evil repute.

Let them talk of her! If she dared everything, it would be well understood that she had not done so without a prospect worthy of herself.

If she broke away from the obligations of a life that could never be other than poor and commonplace, those who knew her would estimate the compensation she had found.

Sidney Kirkwood was aware of her ambitions; for his own sake he had hoped to keep her on the low level to which she was born; now let him recognise his folly! Some day she would present herself before him:--'Very sorry that I could not oblige you, my dear sir, but you see that my lot was to be rather different from that you kindly planned for me.' Let them gossip and envy! It was a strange night that followed.

Between one and two o'clock the heavens began to be overflashed with summer lightning; there was no thunder, no rain.