She lived again through her own young days of hope and love in Magdalen's replies.
The next morning the all-important decision was announced in words.

Mr.
Vanstone took his daughter upstairs into her mother's room, and there placed before her the result of the yesterday's consultation, and of the night's reflection which had followed it.

He spoke with perfect kindness and self-possession of manner-but in fewer and more serious words than usual; and he held his wife's hand tenderly in his own all through the interview.
He informed Magdalen that neither he nor her mother felt themselves justified in blaming her attachment to Frank.

It had been in part, perhaps, the natural consequence of her childish familiarity with him; in part, also, the result of the closer intimacy between them which the theatrical entertainment had necessarily produced.

At the same time, it was now the duty of her parents to put that attachment, on both sides, to a proper test--for her sake, because her happy future was their dearest care; for Frank's sake, because they were bound to give him the opportunity of showing himself worthy of the trust confided in him.