te was the enemy that now she dreaded, and
not the Italian woman, or the Lovel family.

Lady Anna could only say that she would go to Yoxham, if she were
invited there by Mrs. Lovel.

CHAPTER XII.

HAVE THEY SURRENDERED?

As all the world heard of what was going on, so did Daniel Thwaite
hear it among others. He was a hard-working, conscientious, moody
man, given much to silence among his fellow workmen;--one to whom
life was serious enough; not a happy man, though he had before him
a prospect of prosperity which would make most men happy. But he was
essentially a tender-hearted, affectionate man, who could make a
sacrifice of himself if he thought it needed for the happiness of one
he loved. When he heard of this proposed marriage, he asked himself
many questions as to his duty and as to the welfare of the girl. He
did love her with all his heart, and he believed thoroughly in her
affection for himself. He had, as yet, no sufficient reason to doubt
that she would be true to him;--but he knew well that an earl's
coronet must be tempting to a girl so circumstanced as was Lady Anna.
There were moments in which he thought that it was almost his duty
to give her up, and bid her go and live among those of her own rank.
But then he did not believe in rank. He utterly disbelieved in it;
and in his heart of hearts he felt that he would make a better and a
fitter husband to this girl than would an earl, with all an earl's
temptation to vice. He was ever thinking of some better world to
which he might take her, which had not been contaminated by empty
names and an impudent assumption of hereditary, and therefore false,
dignity. As regarded the money, it would be hers whether she married
him or the Earl. And if she loved him, as she had sworn that she did,
why should he be false to her? Or why, as yet, should he think that
she would prefer an empty, gilded lordling to the friend who had been
her friend as far back as her memory could carry her? If she asked
to be released, then indeed he would release her,--but not without
explaining to her, with such eloquence as he might be able to
use,--what it was she proposed to abandon, and what to take in place
of that which she lost. He was a man, silent and under self-control,
but self-confident also; and he did believe himself to be a better
man than young Earl Lovel.

In making this resolution,--that he would give her back her troth if
she asked for it, but not without ex