That Norman had often declared his love to her eldest daughter she knew very well, and she knew also that Gertrude had never rejected him.

Having perfect confidence in her child, she had purposely abstained from saying anything that could bias her opinion.

She had determined to leave the matter in the hands of the young people themselves, judging that it might be best arranged as a true love-match between them, without interference from her; she had therefore said nothing to Gertrude on the subject.
Mrs.Woodward, however, discovered that she was in error, when it was too late for her to retrieve her mistake; and, indeed, had she discovered it before that letter was written, what could she have done?
She could not have forbidden Harry to come to her house--she could not have warned him not to throw himself at her daughter's feet.

The cup was prepared for his lips, and it was necessary that he should drink of it.

There was nothing for which she could blame him; nothing for which she could blame herself; nothing for which she did blame her daughter.