l over! Georgey, when she read this letter, was very
indignant at her lover's conduct. She did not believe that her own
letter had at all been of a nature to warrant it. She had regarded
herself as being quite sure of him, and only so far doubting herself,
as to be able to make her own terms because of such doubts. And now
the Jew had rejected her! She read this last letter over and over
again, and the more she read it the more she felt that in her heart of
hearts she had intended to marry him. There would have been
inconveniences no doubt, but they would have been less than the sorrow
on the other side. Now she saw nothing before her but a long vista of
Caversham dullness, in which she would be trampled upon by her father
and mother, and scorned by Mr and Mrs George Whitstable.

She got up and walked about the room thinking of vengeance. But what
vengeance was possible to her? Everybody belonging to her would take
the part of the Jew in that which he had now done. She could not ask
Dolly to beat him; nor could she ask her father to visit him with a
stern frown of paternal indignation. There could be no revenge. For a
time,--only a few seconds,--she thought that she would write to Mr
Brehgert and tell him that she had not intended to bring about this
termination of their engagement. This, no doubt, would have been an
appeal to the Jew for mercy;--and she could not quite descend to that.
But she would keep the watch and chain he had given her, and which
somebody had told her had not cost less than a hundred and fifty
guineas. She could not wear them, as people would know whence they had
come; but she might exchange them for jewels which she could wear.

At lunch she said nothing to her sister, but in the course of the
afternoon she thought it best to inform her mother. 'Mamma,' she said,
'as you and papa take it so much to heart, I have broken off
everything with Mr Brehgert.'

'Of course it must be broken off,' said Lady Pomona. This was very
ungracious,--so much so that Georgey almost flounced out of the room.
'Have you heard from the man?' asked her ladyship.

'I have written to him, and he has answered me; and it is all settled.
I thought that you would have said something kind to me.' And the
unfortunate young woman burst out into tears.

'It was so dreadful,' said Lady Pomona;--'so very dreadful. I never
heard of anything so bad. When young what's-his-name married the
tallow-chandler's daughter I thought it wo