She arrived in the town before daybreak, and went straight up to her aunt's, to whom she announced that Madam Beck wished her to take a place in Holland with Garvloit, who was on the point of sailing. She showed her the letter—there was no time to lose.
The old woman listened to her for a while, and then said abruptly—
"There has been some difficulty with the lieutenant, Elizabeth?"
"Yes, aunt, there has," she replied; "he made love to me."
"He did—"
"And first I said as good as yes. But I don't mean to have him—and so I told Madam Beck."
"So you wouldn't have him?" was the rejoinder, after an astonished pause; "and the reason, I suppose, was that you would rather have Salvé?"
"Yes, aunt," in a low voice.
"And why in the world didn't you take him, then?"
The tears came into Elizabeth's eyes.