She continued for several minutes silent, and Mrs.Hamilton felt too deeply pained and disappointed to speak again.

Her daughter had spoken to her that morning as she had seldom done even in her childhood.

Then her mother could look forward to years of reason and maturity for the improvement of those errors; now others had arisen, and if her control were once so entirely thrown aside, could she ever regain sufficient influence to lead her right.

Seldom had Caroline's conduct given her so much pain as in the disclosures and events of that morning.
"Is it absolutely necessary," Caroline at length said, summoning, as her aunt Eleanor had often done, pride to drown the whisperings of conscience, "that I must love another, because I rejected Lord St.Eval?
In such an important step as marriage, I should imagine my own inclinations were the first to be consulted.

It would be strange indeed, if, after all I have heard you say on the evil of forcing young women to marry, that you should compel your own child to accept the first offer she received." "You do me injustice, Caroline," replied her mother, controlling with an effort natural displeasure; "St.Eval would not accept an unwilling bride, nor after what has passed would your father and myself deem you worthy to become his wife." "Then long may this paragon of excellence remain away," replied Caroline, with indignant haughtiness kindling in every feature.