Father Francis, thus converted to her side, lost no time; he walked into the dining-room and told Neville he had bad news for him.
"Summon all your courage, my young friend," said he, with feeling, "and remember that this world is full of disappointments."
Neville said nothing, but rose and stood rather pale, waiting like a man for the blow. Its nature he more than half guessed: he had been at the window.
It fell.
"She is engaged to Gaunt, since last night; and she loves him."
"The double-faced jade!" cried Peyton, with an oath.
"The heartless coquette!" groaned Neville.
Father Francis made excuses for her: "Nay, nay, she is not the first of her sex that did not know her own mind all at once. Besides, we men are blind in matters of love; perhaps a woman would have read her from the first. After all, she was not bound to give us the eyes to read a female heart."
He next reminded Neville that Gaunt had been her servant for years. "You knew that," said he, "yet you came between them——at your peril. Put yourself in his place: say you had succeeded: would not his wrong be greater than yours is now? Come, be brave; be generous; he is wounded, he is disinherited; only his love is left him: 'tis the poor man's lamb; and would you take it?"