He could not bring his mouth to utter flinty negatives, so it appeared that he assented; and then his better nature abused him for deluding her.

He grew utterly ashamed of his aimless selfish double-dealing.

"Can it be ?" he questioned his own mind, and listened greedily to any mental confirmations of surpassing excellence in her, that the world might possibly acknowledge.

Having, with great zeal, created a set of circumstances, he cursed them heartily, after the fashion of little people.

He grew resigned to abandon Lady Charlotte, and to give his name to this subduing girl; but a comfortable quieting sensation came over him, at the thought that his filial duty stood in the way.