She might save him from ruin, and help him to honour and fortune.
But then, when the word was once past her lips, there returned to her that true woman's feeling which made her plead for a long day,--which made her feel that that long day would be all too short,--which made her already dread the coming of the end of the year. She had said that she would become George Vavasor's wife, but she wished that the saying so might be the end of it. When he came to her to embrace her how should she receive him? The memory of John Grey's last kiss still lingered on her lips. She had told herself that she scorned the delights of love; if it were so, was she not bound to keep herself far from them; if it were so,--would not her cousin's kiss pollute her?

She might save him from ruin, and help him to honour and fortune.
But she already dreaded the coming of the end of the year. She had said that she would become George Vavasor's wife, but she wished that saying so might be the end of it. When he came to embrace her how should she receive him? The memory of John Grey's last kiss still lingered on her lips.
