‘No, not that.’

‘What then?  Will they despise him and me?’

’No one who knows you can despise you.  No one who sees you can fail to admire you.’  Nora, as she said this, thought of her mother, but told herself at once that in this matter her mother’s judgment had been altogether destroyed by her disappointment.  ’What I think will take place will be this.  His family, when first they hear of it, will be sorry.’

‘Then,’ said Caroline, ‘I will put an end to it.’

’You can’t do that, dear.  You are engaged, and you haven’t a right.  I am engaged to a man, and all my friends object to it.  But I shan’t put an end to it.  I don’t think I have a right.  I shall not do it any way, however.’

‘But if it were for his good?’

’It couldn’t be for his good.  He and I have got to go along together somehow.’

‘You wouldn’t hurt him,’ said Caroline.

’I won’t if I can help it, but he has got to take me along with him any how; and Mr Glascock has got to take you.  If I were you, I shouldn’t ask any more questions.’

’It isn’t the same.  You said that you were to be poor, but he is very rich.  And I am beginning to understand that these titles of yours are something like kings’ crowns.  The man who has to wear them can’t do just as he pleases with them.  Noblesse oblige.  I can see the meaning of that, even when the obligation itself is trumpery in its nature.  If it is a man’s duty to marry a Talbot because he’s a Howard, I suppose he ought to do his duty.’  After a pause she went on again.  ’I do believe that I have made a mistake.  It seemed to be absurd at the first to think of it, but I do believe it now.  Even what you say to me makes me think it.’

‘At any rate you can’t go back,’ said Nora enthusiastically.

‘I will try.’

’Go to himself and ask him.  You must leave him to decide it at last.  I don’t see how a girl when she is engaged, is to throw a man over unless he consents.  Of course you can throw yourself into the Arno.’

’And get the water into my shoes, for it wouldn’t do much more at present.’

‘And you can jilt him,’ said Nora.

‘It would not be jilting him.’

’He must decide that.  If he so regards it, it will be so.  I advise you to think no more about it; but if you speak to anybody it should be to him.’  This was at last the result of Nora’s wisdom, and then the two girls descended together to the room in which Lady Rowley was sitting with her other daughters.  Lady Rowley was very careful in asking after Miss Spalding’s sister, and Miss Spalding assured her that Olivia was quite well.  Then Lady Rowley made some inquiry about Olivia and Mr Glascock, and Miss Spalding assured her that no two persons were ever such allies, and that she believed that they were together at this moment investigating some old church.  Lady Rowley simpered, and declared that nothing could be more proper, and expressed a hope that Olivia would like England.  Caroline Spalding, having still in her mind the trouble that had brought her to Nora, had not much to say about this.  ‘If she goes again to England I am sure she will like it,’ replied Miss Spalding.