So she looked anxiously at Annie as she entered, and Annie would not keep her in suspense.  “There was a letter from Miss Moran last night,” she said.  “She loves George yet.  She re-wrote the unfortunate letter, and this time it found its owner.  I think he has it next his heart at this very moment.”

“I am glad of that, Annie.  But who has the first letter?”

“I think you know, Mary.”

“You mean Mr. Van Ariens?”

“Yes.”

“Then there is no more to be said.  I shall write to him as soon as possible.”

“I am sorry—­”

“No, no!  Be content, Annie.  The right must always come right.  Neither you nor I could desire any other end, even to our own love story.”

“But you must suffer.”

“Not much.  None of us weep if we lose what is of no value.  And I have noticed that the happiness of any one is always conditioned by the unhappiness of some one else.  Love usually builds his home out of the wrecks of other homes.  Your cousin and Cornelia will be happy, but there are others that must suffer, that they may be so.  I will go now, Annie, because until I have written to Mr. Van Ariens, I shall not feel free.  And also, I do not wish him to come here, and in his last letter he spoke of such an intention.”

So the two letters—­that of Hyde to Cornelia, and that of Mary Darner to Van Ariens, left England for America in the same packet; and though Mary Darner undoubtedly had some suffering and disappointment to conquer, the fight was all within her.  To her friends at the Manor she was just the same bright, courageous girl; ready for every emergency, and equally ready to make the most of every pleasure.

And the tone of the Manor House was now set to a key of the highest joy and expectation.  Hyde unconsciously struck the note, for he was happily busy from morning to night about affairs relating either to his marriage, or to his future as the head of a great household.  All his old exigent, extravagant liking for rich clothing returned to him.  He had constant visits from his London tailor, a dapper little artist, who brought with him a profusion of rich cloth, silk and satin, and who firmly believed that the tailor made the man.  There were also endless interviews with the family lawyer, endless readings of law papers, and endless consultations about rights and successions, which Hyde was glad and grateful to leave very much to his father’s wisdom and generosity.

At the beginning of this happy period, Hyde had been sure that the business of his preparations would be arranged in three weeks; a month had appeared to be a quite unreasonable and impossible delay; but the month passed, and it was nearly the middle of November when all things were ready for his voyage.  His mother would then have urged a postponement until spring, but she knew that George would brook no further delay; and she was wise enough to accept the inevitable cheerfully.  And thus by letting her will lead her, in the very road necessity drove her, she preserved not only her liberty, but her desire.