She had told him that he might go now, and that she would not be discontented at his going.

She knew that the morrow would be very blank to her; but she struggled to live up to the spirit of her promise, and she succeeded.

They all dined at the Great House, even Mrs Dale doing so upon this occasion.

When they had come in from the garden in the evening, Crosbie talked more to Mrs Dale than he did even to Lily, while Lily sat a little distant, listening with all her ears, sometimes saying a low-toned word, and happy beyond expression in the feeling that her mother and her lover should understand each other.

And it must be understood that Crosbie at this time was fully determined to conquer the difficulties of which he had thought so much, and to fix the earliest day which might be possible for his marriage.