to accept even his friendship. But she was
aware that she had misbehaved herself in insulting him. She was
ashamed of herself in that she had not been able to hide her feelings
within her own high heart, but had allowed him to suppose that she
had been angered because she had been deprived of her uncle's wealth.
Having so resolved, she wrote to him as follows:--

MY DEAR HENRY,

Do not take any further steps about the money, as I am
quite determined not to accept it. I hope it will not be
sent, as there would only be the trouble of repaying it. I
do not think that it would do for me to live at Llanfeare,
as I should have no means of supporting myself, let alone
the servants. The thing is of course out of the question.
You tell me that I ought to be ashamed of myself for
certain words that I spoke to you. They should not have
been spoken. I am ashamed of myself, and I now send you my
apology.

Yours truly,

ISABEL BRODRICK.

The reader may perhaps understand that these words were written by
her with extreme anguish; but of that her Cousin Henry understood
nothing.

CHAPTER XII

Mr Owen

In this way Isabel spent four very uncomfortable weeks in her new
home before Mr Owen returned to Hereford. Nor was her discomfort much
relieved by the prospect of his return. She knew all the details of
his circumstances, and told herself that the man would be wrong to
marry without any other means than those he at present possessed. Nor
did she think of herself that she was well qualified to be the wife
of a poor gentleman. She believed that she could starve if it were
required of her, and support her sufferings with fortitude. She
believed that she could work,--work from morning till night, from
week to week, from month to month, without complaining; but she did
not think that she could make herself sweet as a wife should be sweet
to a husband with a threadbare coat, or that she could be tender
as a mother should be tender while dividing limited bread among
her children. To go and die and have done with it, if that might
be possible, was the panacea of her present troubles most commonly
present to her mind. Therefore, there was no comfort to her in that
promised coming of her lover of which the girls chattered to her
continually. She had refused her lover when she held the proud
position of the heiress of Llanfeare,--refused him, no doubt, in
obedience to her uncle's word