He had said that she was in freedom to speak, but the consequences portrayed were too fearful to contemplate.

In freedom?
No! Instead of loosing the cords with which he had bound her spirit, he had only drawn them more tightly.

She was in freedom to speak, but the very first word she uttered would sound the knell of her young heart's fondest hopes.
How, then, could she speak that word?
Lyon had not miscalculated the effect of his letter on the inexperienced, fond young girl, around whose innocent heart he had woven a spell of enchantment.

Most adroitly had he seemed to leave her free to act from her own desires, while he had made that action next to impossible.
How rapidly, sometimes, does the young mind gain premature strength when subjected to strong trial.

Little beyond an artless child was Fanny Markland when she first met the fascinating young stranger; and now she was fast growing into a deep-feeling, strong-thinking woman.