“Are you resolved?” he asked, almost choked by the feelings of joy her words had caused.

“I am,” she firmly replied; “I shall brave the worst, and be happy in your love.  What more can I desire?”

Manners was too much overcome to speak.  He could only weakly articulate a fervent “God bless you, my love;” but if Dorothy had desired anything more to prove the intensity of his feelings, she would have found it had she looked to see it in his eyes.

While matters had been progressing thus at Haddon, Sir Henry de la Zouch had been gradually improving in health, until by now he had found himself almost as well as he had been of yore, and he had intimated that he was fast getting ready to return to Ashby Castle.

His passion for Dorothy had not abated one whit, and he was deeply mortified to find how rapidly Manners had been wooing and winning the maiden.

Yet, although his suit had been rebuffed at every point, he was not discouraged.  Indeed, had his other qualities equalled his perseverance, he had richly merited a full and good reward; but, unfortunately, this was his only redeeming trait, and the baseness of that motive which prompted it poisoned that very virtue too.

He was neither dejected nor cast down, because he felt that he had within his power a mode of wooing the maiden which, were he but to use it, could not fail to insure complete success.  The plan had its drawbacks, to be sure, but it was the only one at his command, and even as he lay upon the sick bed, tossing in agony from side to side, he was considering whether or no he should carry it out.  When he was better he determined to put it into force upon the first opportunity, but every relapse undid his resolution, and made him pay attention to his conscience, which bade him reject the idea.

As a compromise he determined at last to ask Dorothy again for her hand, and he availed himself of an early opportunity of doing this.  He used all his persuasive eloquence in vain.  He pointed to his haggard face, and told her that a refusal would inevitably complete the work that Manners had begun, but she was firm; and seeing that nothing would shake her resolution, he resolved to put his plan into operation immediately upon his recovery.

It was a deeply-laid scheme, the scheme of a villain, and it revealed its author in its proper light.  As he communicated his plan to his page, when the latter paid him his final visit, his face glowed with satisfaction, and he imagined the chagrin his dupes would feel when they found themselves within his power.

It was necessary, in the first place, to throw Manners off his guard, and, smarting under the humiliation of his defeat, De la Zouch determined that his victor should also come within the reach of his net; and, as he witnessed the growing familiarity which existed between his rival and Dorothy, he was more than ever determined to have vengeance upon him, and more jubilant at the prospect of attaining the consummation of his wish.