"And, after accepting it, I have no right to reproach him with it: it would be base," she thought.
Nevertheless, it was slowly wearing away the very foundations of her peace.

The morning walks had long been given up.

Mercy had been resolute about this.

When she found Stephen insisting upon going in by-ways and lanes, lest some one should see them who might mention it to his mother, when he told her that she must not speak of it to her own mother, she said firmly,-- "This must end, Stephen.

How hard it is to me to give it up you know very well.