No true woman ever is so inclined from her own personal point of view, however prompt she may be in taking such steps to safeguard those dear to her.

Although she had written to Raye so short a time previously, she instantly penned another Anna-note hinting clearly though delicately the state of affairs.
Raye replied by a hasty line to say how much he was affected by her news: he felt that he must run down to see her almost immediately.
But a week later the girl came to her mistress's room with another note, which on being read informed her that after all he could not find time for the journey.

Anna was broken with grief; but by Mrs.Harnham's counsel strictly refrained from hurling at him the reproaches and bitterness customary from young women so situated.

One thing was imperative: to keep the young man's romantic interest in her alive.
Rather therefore did Edith, in the name of her _protegee_, request him on no account to be distressed about the looming event, and not to inconvenience himself to hasten down.

She desired above everything to be no weight upon him in his career, no clog upon his high activities.