However she might personally suffer, whatever might be the sacrifice of her own feelings--observe how artfully this was put, to insinuate that she was herself in love with him!--she could not accept from Mr.Julian Gray an honor of which she was unworthy.

Her gratitude to him and her interest in him alike forbade her to compromise his brilliant future by consenting to a marriage which would degrade him in the estimation of all his friends.

She thanked him (with tears); she thanked Lady Janet (with more tears); but she dare not, in the interests of _his_ honor and _his_ happiness, accept the hand that he offered to her.

God bless and comfort him; and God help her to bear with her hard lot! "The object of this contemptible comedy is plain enough to my mind.

She is simply holding off (Julian, as you know, is a poor man) until the influence of Lady Janet's persuasion is backed by the opening of Lady Janet's purse.