’I am not going to make any such foolish trial of your lover’s faith, Milly,’ said Mr. Darrell.  ’Whether your fortune is or is not a paramount consideration with him can make no possible difference in my decision.  Nothing will ever induce me to consent to your marrying him.  Of course, if you choose to defy me, you are of age and your own mistress; but on the day that makes you Angus Egerton’s wife you will cease to be my daughter.’

‘Papa,’ cried Milly, ‘you will break my heart.’

’Nonsense, child; hearts are not easily broken.  Let me hear no more of this unfortunate business.  I have spoken to you very plainly, in order that there might be no chance of misunderstanding between us; and I rely upon your honour that there shall be no clandestine meeting between you and Angus Egerton in the future.  I look to you, Miss Crofton, also, and shall hold you answerable for any accidental encounters out walking.’

‘You need not be afraid, papa,’ Milly answered disconsolately.  ’I daresay Mr. Egerton will leave Yorkshire, as he spoke of doing yesterday.’

‘I hope he may,’ said Mr. Darrell.

Milly rose to leave the room.  Half-way towards the door she stopped, and turned her white despairing face towards her father with a hopeless look.

‘I shall obey you, papa,’ she said.  ’I could not bear to forfeit your love, even for his sake.  But I think you will break my heart.’

Mr. Darrell went over to her and kissed her.

’I am acting best for your ultimate happiness, Milly, be sure of that,’ he said in a kinder tone than he had used before.  ’There, my love, go and be happy with Miss Crofton, and let us all agree to forget this business as quickly as possible.’

This was our dismissal.  We went back to Milly’s pretty sitting-room, where the sun was shining and the warm summer air blowing on birds and flowers, and books and drawing materials, and all the airy trifles that had made our lives pleasant to us until that hour.  Milly sat on a low stool at my feet, and buried her face in my lap, refusing all comfort.  She sat like this for about an hour, weeping silently, and then rose suddenly and wiped the tears from her pale face.

‘I am not going to lead you a miserable life about this, Mary,’ she said.  ’We will never speak of it after to-day.  And I will try to do my duty to papa, and bear my life without that new happiness, which made it seem so bright.  Do you think Mr. Egerton will feel the disappointment very much, Mary?’

’He cannot help feeling it, dear, if he loves you—­as I believe he does.’

’And we might have been so happy together!  I was dreaming of Cumber Priory all last night.  I thought it had been restored with some of my money, and that the old house was full of life and brightness.  Will he go away, do you think, Mary?’

‘I should think it very likely.’

’And I shall never see him any more.  I could not forfeit papa’s love, Mary.’