The thing is settled. Papa can break my
heart, but he cannot make me say that I am not engaged to Mr
Tregear.'
On that night Mary told the whole of her story to Lady Cantrip.
There was nothing she tried to conceal. 'I got up,' she said, 'and
threw my arms round him. Is he not all the world to me?'
'Had it been planned?' asked Lady Cantrip.
'No;--no! Nothing had been planned. They are cousins and very
intimate, and he goes there constantly. Now I want you to tell
papa all about it.'
Lady Cantrip began to think that it had been an evil day for her
when she had agreed to take charge of this very determined young
lady, but she consented to write to the Duke. As the girl was in
her hands she must take care not to lay herself open to
reproaches. As this objectionable lover had either contrived a
meeting, or had met her without contriving, it was necessary that
the Duke should be informed. 'I would rather you wrote the
letter,' said Lady Mary. 'But pray tell him that all along I have
meant him to know about it.'
Till Lady Cantrip seated herself at her writing-table she did not
know how great the difficulty would be.
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