She knew her own motives and her own feelings, but neither of the men would understand them.

Because she preferred the company of Mr.Morton, and had at the moment feared that her sisters would have deserted her had she followed him, therefore she had declared her purpose of going back to Dillsborough, in doing which she knew that Larry and the girls would accompany her.

But of course Mr.Morton would think that she had preferred the company of her recognised admirer.

It was pretty well known in Dillsborough that Larry was her lover.

Her stepmother had spoken of it very freely; and Larry himself was a man who did not keep his lights hidden under a bushel.