She struggled very hard to obtain the privilege for which she so anxiously longed; but in doing so she only met with a sad and sore rebuff.
'Gertrude,' at last said Linda, when Gertrude thought that the subject had been put to rest at any rate for that night, 'don't you think mamma would be pleased if she knew that you had engaged yourself to Harry Norman ?' 'No,' said Gertrude, evincing her strong mind by the tone in which she spoke; 'I do not.

If mamma wished it, she would have told me; for she never has any secrets.

I should be as wrong to engage myself with Harry as you would be with Alaric.

For though Harry has property of his own, while poor Alaric has none, he has a very insufficient income for a married man, and I have no fortune with which to help him.

If nothing else prevented it, I should consider it wicked in me to make myself a burden to a man while he is yet so young and comparatively so poor.' Prudent, sensible, high-minded, well-disciplined Gertrude! But had her heart really felt a spark of love for the man of whom she spoke, how much would prudent, sensible, high-minded considerations have weighed with her?
Alas! not a feather.
Having made her prudent, high-minded speech, she turned round and slept; and poor Linda also turned round and bedewed her pillow.
She no longer panted to tell her sister of Alaric's love.
On the next morning the two young men returned to town, and the customary dullness of the week began..