But now a mournful, regretful passion began to weigh upon her heart.  She shed tears, and presently stole away to her room for a night of sorrow.

What must be her practical course?  If she went back to London without addressing another word to him, he must understand her silence as a final farewell.  In that case his departure from Exeter would, no doubt, speedily follow, and there was little likelihood that she would ever again see him.  Were Godwin a vulgar schemer, he would not so readily relinquish the advantage he had gained; he would calculate upon the weakness of a loving woman, and make at least one effort to redeem his position.  As it was, she could neither hope nor fear that he would try to see her again.  Yet she wished to see him, desired it ardently.

And yet—­for each impulse of ardour was followed by a cold fit of reasoning—­might not his abandonment of the position bear a meaning such as Buckland would of course attribute to it?  If he were hopeless of the goodwill of her parents, what profit would it be to him to retain her love?  She was no heiress; supposing him actuated by base motive, her value in his eyes came merely of his regarding her as a means to an end.

But this was to reopen the question of whether or not he truly loved her.  No; he was forsaking her because he thought it impossible for her to pardon the deceit he had undeniably practised—­with whatever palliating circumstances.  He was overcome with shame.  He imagined her indignant, scornful.

Why had she written such a short, cold note, the very thing to produce in his mind a conviction of her resentment?

Hereupon came another paroxysm of tearful misery.  It was intensified by a thought she had half consciously been repressing ever since the conversation with her brother.  Was it true that Miss Moxey had had it in her power to strip Godwin of a disguise?  What, then, were the relations existing between him and that strangely impressive woman?  How long had they known each other?  It was now all but certain that a strong intellectual sympathy united their minds—­and perhaps there had been something more.

She turned her face upon the pillow and moaned.

CHAPTER IV

And from the Moxeys Buckland had derived his information.  What was it he said—­something about ‘an odd look’ on Miss Moxey’s face when that friend of theirs talked of Peak?  Might not such a look signify a conflict between the temptation to injure and the desire to screen?

Sidwell constructed a complete romance.  Ignorance of the past of both persons concerned allowed her imagination free play.  There was no limit to the possibilities of self-torment.