Nothing will persuade her to fix the day for our marriage." It was true! Mercy had been mad enough to listen to him, and to love him.

But Mercy was not vile enough to marry him under her false character, and in her false name.

Between three and four months had elapsed since Horace had been sent home from the war, wounded, and had found the beautiful Englishwoman whom he had befriended in France established at Mablethorpe House.

Invited to become Lady Janet's guest (he had passed his holidays as a school-boy under Lady Janet's roof)--free to spend the idle time of his convalescence from morning to night in Mercy's society--the impression originally produced on him in a French cottage soon strengthened into love.

Before the month was out Horace had declared himself, and had discovered that he spoke to willing ears.