Mrs.Woodward well knew with what object he went, and would have spared him from his immediate sorrow by following him; but she judged that it would be better both for him and for her daughter that he should learn the truth.
He went in through the open drawing-room window, and found Gertrude alone.

She was on the sofa with a book in her hand; and had he been able to watch her closely he would have seen that the book trembled as he entered the room.

But he was unable to watch anything closely.

His own heart beat so fast, his own confusion was so great, that he could hardly see the girl whom he now hoped to gain as his wife.

Had Alaric been coming to his wooing, he would have had every faculty at his call.