Now, at this period, he was
in that mood of superhuman efforts, and he called loudly for the
hundred and thirty pounds for Dandy. After what had passed, Mark
could not bring himself to say that he would pay nothing till the
bills were safe; and therefore with the assistance of Mr. Forrest of
the Bank, he did remit the price of Dandy to his friend Sowerby in
London.
And Lucy Robarts--we must now say a word of her. We have seen how, on
that occasion, when the world was at her feet, she had sent her noble
suitor away, not only dismissed, but so dismissed that he might be
taught never again to offer to her the sweet incense of his vows. She
had declared to him plainly that she did not love him and could not
love him, and had thus thrown away not only riches and honour and
high station, but more than that--much worse than that--she had flung
away from her the lover to whose love her warm heart clung. That her
love did cling to him, she knew even then, and owned more thoroughly
as soon as he was gone. So much her pride had done for her, and that
strong resolve that Lady Lufton should not scowl on her and tell
her that she had entrapped her son. I know it will be said of Lord
Lufton himself that, putting aside his peerage and broad acres, and
handsome, sonsy face, he was not worth a girl's care and love.
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