Hitherto the family of Scroope had been continued from generation to generation without stain,--almost without stain.

It had felt it to be a fortunate thing that the late heir had died because of the pollution of his wretched marriage.

And now must evil as bad befall it, worse evil perhaps, through the folly of this young man?
Must that proud motto be taken down from its place in the hall from very shame?
But the evil had not been done yet, and it might be that her words could save the house from ruin and disgrace.
She was a woman of whom it may be said that whatever difficulty she might have in deciding a question she could recognise the necessity of a decision and could abide by it when she had made it.

It was with great difficulty that she could bring herself to think that an Earl of Scroope should be false to a promise by which he had seduced a woman, but she did succeed in bringing herself to such thought.

Her very heart bled within her as she acknowledged the necessity.