As for Nora, she was in a state of mind much less near to any fixed purpose.

She had told herself that she loved this man,--had indeed done so in the clearest way, by acknowledging the fact of her love to another suitor, by pleading to that other suitor the fact of her love as an insuperable reason why he should be rejected.

There was no longer any doubt about it to her.

When Priscilla had declared that Hugh Stanbury was at the door, her heart had gone into her mouth.

Involuntarily she had pressed her hands to her sides, and had held her breath.