Lady Carbury did not dare to tell him that she did not wish him to see Paul Montague.  She knew that if he really threw himself into the scale against her, her opposition would weigh nothing.  He was too powerful in his honesty and greatness of character,—­and had been too often admitted by herself to be the guardian angel of the family,—­for her to stand against him.  But she still thought that had he persevered, Hetta would have become his wife.

It was late that evening before Roger found Paul Montague, who had only then returned from Liverpool with Fisker,—­whose subsequent doings have been recorded somewhat out of their turn.

‘I don’t know what letter you mean,’ said Paul.

‘You wrote to her?’

’Certainly I wrote to her. ...