She was prepared for unwillingness, resistance even; but Lesbia received the news with evident pleasure.
'I shall be very glad to go,' she said, 'this place is so dull.

Of course I shall be sorry to leave you, grandmother, and I wish you would go with me; but any change will be a relief.

I think if I had to stay here all the winter, counting the days and the hours, I should go out of my mind.' The tears came into her eyes, but she wiped them away hurriedly, ashamed of her emotion.
'My dearest child, I am so sorry for you,' murmured Lady Maulevrier.
'But believe me the day will come when you will be very glad that you conquered the first foolish inclination of your girlish heart.' 'Yes, I daresay, when I am eighty,' Lesbia answered, impatiently.

She had made up her mind to submit to the inevitable.

She had loved John Hammond--had been as near breaking her heart for him as it was in her nature to break her heart for anybody; but she wanted to make a great marriage, to be renowned and admired.