He need not, therefore, at once withdraw his name from Sebright's.

Thus he endeavoured to console himself, still, however, resolving that he would have a little serious conversation with the squire that very evening as to Lily's fortune.
And what was the state of Lily's mind at the same moment, while she, also, was performing some slight toilet changes preparatory to their simple dinner at the Small House?
"I didn't behave well to him," she said to herself; "I never do.

I forget how much he is giving up for me; and then, when anything annoys him, I make it worse instead of comforting him." And upon that she made accusation against herself that she did not love him half enough,--that she did not let him see how thoroughly and perfectly she loved him.

She had an idea of her own, that as a girl should never show any preference for a man till circumstances should have fully entitled him to such manifestation, so also should she make no drawback on her love, but pour it forth for his benefit with all her strength, when such circumstances had come to exist.

But she was ever feeling that she was not acting up to her theory, now that the time for such practice had come.