t my father will be found guilty, and will be sent to prison.
Putting ourselves out of the question, what would you think of a girl
who could engage herself to any man under such circumstances? What
would you think of a girl who would allow herself to be in love in
such a position? Had I been ten times engaged to you I would have
broken it off." Then she got up to leave him.

But he stopped her, holding her by the arm. "What you have said will
make me say what I certainly should never have said without it. I
declare that we are engaged."

"No, we are not," said Grace.

"You have told me that you loved me."

"I never told you so."

"There are other ways of speaking than the voice; and I will boast to
you, though to no one else, that you have told me so. I believe you
love me. I shall hold myself as engaged to you, and I shall think you
false if I hear that you listen to another man. Now, good-by,
Grace;--my own Grace."

"No, I am not your own," she said, through her tears.

"You are my own, my very own. God bless you, dear, dear, dearest
Grace. You shall hear from me in a day or two, and shall see me as
soon as this horrid trial is over." Then he took her in his arms
before she could escape from him, and kissed her forehead and her
lips, whilst she struggled in his arms. After that he left the room
and the house as quickly as he could, and was seen no more of the
Dales upon that occasion.

CHAPTER XXXI

Showing How Major Grantly Returned to Guestwick

Grace, when she was left alone, threw herself upon the sofa, and hid
her face in her hands. She was weeping almost hysterically, and had
been utterly dismayed and frightened by her lover's impetuosity.
Things had gone after a fashion which her imagination had not painted
to her as possible. Surely she had the power to refuse the man if she
pleased. And yet she felt as she lay there weeping that she did in
truth belong to him as part of his goods, and that her generosity had
been foiled. She had especially resolved that she would not confess
to any love for him. She had made no such confession. She had guarded
herself against doing so with all the care which she knew how to
use. But he had assumed the fact, and she had been unable to deny
it. Could she have lied to him, and sworn that she did not love
him? Could she have so perjured herself, even in support of her
generosity? Yes, she would have done so,--so she told herself,--if a
moment had been given