The news that San Miniato had actually sent a telegram was unwelcome in the extreme.

He had, indeed, said in her presence that he had sent several.
But that might have been a careless inaccuracy, or he might have actually written the rest and given them to be despatched before coming upstairs.

To doubt that the one message already sent contained the news of his engagement, seemed gratuitous.

It was only too sure that he had looked upon what had passed at Tragara as a final decision on the part of Beatrice, and that henceforth she was his affianced bride.

Her mother had not even found great difficulty in persuading her of the fact, and after that one bitter struggle she had given up the battle.