Now she loved, and, heart and soul, she belonged to him to whom she had devoted herself.

Whatever suffering might be before her, though it were suffering unto death, she would endure it if her lover demanded such endurance.

Hitherto, there was but one person who suspected her.
In her father's house there still remained an old dependant, who, though he was a man, was cook and housemaid, and washer-woman and servant-of-all-work; or perhaps it would be more true to say that he and Nina between them did all that the requirements of the house demanded.

Souchey--for that was his name--was very faithful, but with his fidelity had come a want of reverence towards his master and mistress, and an absence of all respectful demeanour.

The enjoyment of this apparent independence by Souchey himself went far, perhaps, in lieu of wages.
"Nina," he said to her one morning, "you are seeing too much of Anton Trendellsohn." "What do you mean by that, Souchey ?" said the girl, sharply.
"You are seeing too much of Anton Trendellsohn," repeated the old man.
"I have to see him on father's account.