“Yes, my uncle commanded me to dismiss him, and I obeyed.”
The work dropped from my hands, in my heartfelt disappointment. “Ah! then he knows of your engagement to Mr. Clavering?”
“Yes; he had not been in the house five minutes before Eleanore told him.”
“Then she knew?”
“Yes,” with a half sigh. “She could hardly help it. I was foolish enough to give her the cue in my first moment of joy and weakness. I did not think of the consequences; but I might have known. She is so conscientious.”
“I do not call it conscientiousness to tell another’s secrets,” I returned.
“That is because you are not Eleanore.”
Not having a reply for this, I said, “And so your uncle did not regard your engagement with favor?”
“Favor! Did I not tell you he would never allow me to marry an Englishman? He said he would sooner see me buried.”
“And you yielded? Made no struggle? Let the hard, cruel man have his way?”