Resolution is, no doubt, half the battle. Unfortunately, Ella's resolution, though she hardly perceived this at present, could not be effected by one isolated and final act, but by a long chain of daily and hourly forbearances, the first break in which would undo all that had gone before.
How she bore the test we are going to see.
She woke the next morning to a sense that her life had somehow lost its savour; the exaltation of her resolve overnight had gone off and left her spirits flat and dead; but she came down, nevertheless, determined to be staunch and true to George under all provocations.
'Have you and George decided when you would like your wedding to be?' asked her mother, after breakfast, 'because we ought to have the invitations printed very soon.'
'Not yet,' faltered Ella, and the words might have passed either as an answer or an appeal.
'I think it should be some time before the end of next month, or people will be going out of town.'
'I suppose so,' was the reply, so listlessly given that Mrs. Hylton glanced keenly at her daughter.
'What do you feel about it yourself, Ella?'
'I? oh, I—I've no feeling. Perhaps, if we waited—no, it doesn't matter—let it be when you and George wish, mother, please!'