For the first time in her life she knew the agonies of jealousy.
She could not shed tears, but in her anguish she fell upon prayer, spoke the words above her breath that they might silence that terrible voice within.

Poor lost lamb, crying in the darkness, sending forth such piteous utterance as might create a spirit of love to hear and rescue.
Rescue--none.

When the fire wasted itself, she tried to find solace in the thought that one source of misery was stopped.

Hubert was married, or would be very soon, and if she had sinned in loving him till now, such sin would henceforth be multiplied incalculably; she durst not, as she valued her soul, so much as let his name enter her thoughts.

And to guard against it, was there not a means offered her?
The doubt as to what love meant was well-nigh solved; or at all events she held it proved that the 'love' of the marriage service was something she had never yet felt, something which would follow upon marriage itself.
Earthly love had surely led Hubert Eldon to ruin; oh, not that could be demanded of her! What reason had she now to offer against her mother's desire?
Letty's arguments were vain; they were but as the undisciplined motions of her own heart.