That alone would naturally have separated them.

And now this discovery that Jefferson's father had done hers this wrong.
All idea of marriage was henceforth out of the question.

That was irrevocable.

Of course, she could not hold Jefferson to blame for methods which he himself abhorred.

She would always think as much of him as ever, but whether her father emerged safely from the trial in the Senate or not--no matter what the outcome of the impeachment proceedings might be, Jefferson could never be anything else than a Ryder and from now on there would be an impassable gulf between the Rossmores and the Ryders.