Anne Hereford: A Novel

by Mrs. Henry Wood

"To quit Chandos."

"I shall not do that."

"Not do it?"

"No."

"Miss Hereford, you must. There lives not a more attractive man than Harry Chandos: and you are already three parts in his toils."

"In his toils? I do not understand you, Mrs. Penn."

"My dear, I only alluded to toils of the heart. I don't suppose he would so far forget himself as to attempt positive ones."

I would not answer her: I felt too indignant, and sat holding my throbbing temples. How dared she so speak to me?

"Your own good sense might to show you the necessity of leaving him. By this time to-morrow evening you must have put miles between yourself and Chandos," she eagerly continued, as though she had a personal interest in my going. Hot, angry, flushed, I resented both the words and the advice.

"Mrs. Penn, you are making too much of this. I think you have taken a wrong view of things. My heart is all right, thank you."