And coming as a surprise, he knew it would be a great joy to her.
Frona was taken aback by the suddenness of it.

Only the other day, it was, that Lucile had made a plea to her for St.Vincent, and now it was Colonel Trethaway! True, there had been a false quantity somewhere, but now it seemed doubly false.

Could it be, after all, that Lucile was mercenary?
These thoughts crowded upon her swiftly, with the colonel anxiously watching her face the while.

She knew she must answer quickly, yet was distracted by an involuntary admiration for his bravery.

So she followed, perforce, the lead of her heart, and consented.
Yet the whole thing was rather strained when the four of them came together, next day, in Captain Alexander's private office.