Early in life, when naturally she would not have begun to think seriously of marriage, she had been told rather than asked to give herself to her cousin Mountjoy.

She was too firm of character to accede at once--to deliver herself over body and soul to the tender mercies of one, in truth, unknown.

But she had been unable to interpose any reason that was valid, and had contented herself by demanding time.

Since that there had been moments in which she had almost yielded.

Mountjoy Scarborough had been so represented to her that she had considered it to be almost a duty to yield.