Strange tricks again! It was scarcely credible that one should fall in love with _him_ by the side of attractive Lionel; but so it had been.

Sibylla loved Frederick Massingbird for himself, she liked Lionel because he was the heir to Verner's Pride, and she had managed to keep both her slaves.
Lionel had never spoken of his love.

He knew that his marriage with Sibylla West would be so utterly distasteful to Mr.Verner, that he was content to wait.

He knew that Sibylla could not mistake him--could not mistake what his feelings were; and he believed that she also was content to wait until he should be his own master and at liberty to ask for her.

When that time should come, what did she intend to do with Frederick Massingbird, who made no secret _to her_ that he loved her and expected to make her his wife?
Sibylla did not know; she did not much care; she was of a careless nature, and allowed the future to take its chance.
The only person who had penetrated to the secret of her love for Frederick Massingbird was her father, Dr.West.
"Don't be a simpleton, child, and bind yourself with your eyes bandaged," he abruptly and laconically said to her one day.