"Pshaw! People do not marry for love nowadays. Accept his lordship in a week or prepare to leave my house forever."
"I will obey you, mamma," replied Lena.
Mrs. Van Hoosen bent over and kissed her affectionately.
"That is my own dear girl," she said. "I am content now, and to-morrow I will arrange for your wedding outfit."
That night Lena cried herself to sleep, for she had allowed her mother to sacrifice her to her ambition.
Jack Harkaway was lost to her forever and she could never know what happiness was again.
The week passed, Lord Maltravers called, and was coldly but formally accepted by Lena.
It was settled that the marriage should take place in a month, and the papers contained the following announcement:
"Engaged.—Lena Van Hoosen, daughter of the late Cornelius Van Hoosen, to Lord Maltravers of the peerage of Great Britain."
This to all appearance sealed her fate.