His present ecstasy was not real life. It was illusion. The moment he saw Felix he realized this.
What was he to say? And then, in the midst of his confusion, light leapt to his mind. He had broken plight; but then, so had Rona!
The notion went far to restore his self-respect to him.
"Well," he said, hurriedly, addressing Felix, who stood regarding him critically, "so Rona changed her mind upon the journey here?"
"As you did upon your arrival," was the instant retort.
Denzil looked crestfallen.
"Rona discovered," went on Felix, "upon the way here, that she had done what many a very young girl does—she had mistaken gratitude for love. But, having made this mistake, she was determined to abide by it, and at all costs to keep her faith to you. She is, however, absolved from her allegiance I think, by the scene I witnessed just now in the garden."
There was a pause. "Come, Denzil," said Felix, composedly, "do you suppose that I want to quarrel with you for a slip which gives me my happiness? Let us never speak of this again. And let me assure you that never, in all the future, shall you hear a word from either of us of what has happened. Nobody but Vronsky, Rona, and I know that any engagement existed between you; and we shall never speak of it to anybody. I wish you happiness with all my heart."
* * * * * * *
The Governor had, as we know, previously received a hint from Vronsky. But, in his satisfaction at the engagement, he willingly accepted the Russian's assurance that he had been completely mistaken.