She had not enjoyed even one little moment alone in which to brood her new-found love, and to caress the sweet thought of it.

The girl had but a brief instant of rest in my arms till Sir George dragged her from me by his terrible strength.
"Where is the paper ?" he cried in rage.

"It contained the fellow's signature." "I have swallowed it, father, and you must cut me open to find it.
Doubtless that would be a pleasant task for you," answered Dorothy, who was comparatively calm now that she knew her father could not discover John's name.

I believe Sir George in his frenzy would have killed the girl had he then learned that the letter was from John Manners.
"I command you to tell me this fellow's name," said Sir George, with a calmness born of tempest.

Dorothy did not answer, and Sir George continued "I now understand how you came by the golden heart.