Of other love, should it come, she would not be jealous.

And if it should come, and should be happy, might there not yet be a bright evening of life for herself?
If they should marry, and if their lords would accept her love, her friendship, and her homage, she might yet escape from the deathlike coldness of that Great House, and be happy in some tiny cottage, from which she might go forth at times among those who would really welcome her.

A certain doctor there was, living not very far from Allington, at Guestwick, as to whom she had once thought that he might fill that place of son-in-law,--to be well-beloved.

Her quiet, beautiful Bell had seemed to like the man; and he had certainly done more than seem to like her.

But now, for some weeks past, this hope, or rather this idea, had faded away.