“Really, one would think I had done so. One such moment was worth years of ordinary meetings! Half the battle is won!”
“Have you seen your mother this morning?”
“No; but she knew I was coming.”
“Then you do not know what her feelings are on cooler reflection?”
“My mother would never retract what she has once assured me of,” said Frank, haughtily.
“Forgive me—of what has she assured you?”
“That she regards Eleonora as a dear daughter, and that implies doing the same for me as for my brothers. If Sir Harry would but be so good as to come and see her—’
“Stay, Frank, you have not come that length. You forget that if you have, as you say, gained half the battle, there is another half; and that my father very reasonably feels hurt at being the last to be favoured with the intelligence.”
“Dear Lady Tyrrell, you can see how it was. There was no helping it when once I could speak to Lenore; and then no one would have let me utter a word till I had gone through the examination. We never meant to go on a system of concealment; but you know how every one would have raved and stormed if I had betrayed a thought beyond old Driver, and yet it was only being at rest about Lenore that carried me through without breaking down. Can’t you see?”
“You special pleader! May you win over my father; but you must remember that we are a fallen house, unable to do all we wish.”