In the consternation of her mind at this step which she was taking,--a step which she had taught herself to regard as essentially her duty before it was taken, but which seemed to herself to be false and treacherous the moment she had taken it,--she had become aware that she had been wrong to travel with her cousin.

She felt sure,--she thought that she was sure,--that her doing so had in nowise affected her dealings with Mr Grey.

She was very certain,--she thought that she was certain,--that she would have rejected him just the same had she never gone to Switzerland.

But every one would say of her that her journey to Switzerland with such companions had produced that result.
It had been unlucky and she was sorry for it, and she now wished to avoid all communication with her cousin till this affair should be altogether over.

She was especially unwilling to see him; but she had not felt it necessary to give any special injunctions as to his admittance; and now, before she had time to think of it,--on the eve of her departure for Cheltenham,--he was in the room with her, just as the dusk of the October evening was coming on.