And if she were such a girl as she now appeared to be, might it not be better for him to let her go?
Surely her conduct here at Rufford Hall was opportunity enough.

No doubt she was handsome.

No doubt he loved her,--after his fashion of loving.

But to lose her now would not break his heart, whereas to lose her after he was married to her, would, he knew well, bring him to the very ground.
He would ask her a question or two this very night, and then come to some resolution.

With such thoughts as these crossing his mind he certainly was not going to proclaim his engagement to Lady Penwether.
But Lady Penwether was a determined woman.