There was nothing in which she was concerned that she did not
tell him. Then young Silverbridge had come across her, and she had
determined that he should be her husband. She had been nearly
successful,--so nearly that at moments she felt sure of success.
But the prize had slipped from her through her own fault. She knew
well enough that it was her own fault. When a girl submits to play
such a game as that, she could not stand on too nice scruples. She
had told herself this many a time since;--but the prize was gone.
All this Tregear knew, and knowing it almost dreaded the coming
interview. He could not without actual cruelty have avoided her.
Had he done so before he could not have continued to do so now,
when she was left alone in the world. Her father had not been much
to her, but still his presence had enabled her to put herself
before the world as being somebody. Now she would be almost
nobody. And she had lost her rich prize, while he,--out of the same
treasury as it were,--had won his!
The door opened to him by the same old woman, and he was shown, at
a funereal pace, up into the drawing-room which he had known so
well.
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