And what was the whole truth? Alice Vavasor, when she declared to herself that she must tell her lover the whole truth, was expressing to herself her intention of putting an end to her engagement with Mr. Grey. She was acknowledging that that which had to be told was not compatible with the love and perfect faith which she owed to the man who was her affianced husband. And yet, why should it be so? She did not intend to tell him that she had been false in her love to him. It was not that her heart had again veered itself round and given itself to that wild cousin of hers. Though she might feel herself constrained to part from John Grey, George Vavasor could never be her husband. Of that she assured herself fifty times during the two days' grace which had been allowed her. Nay, she went farther than that with herself, and pronounced a verdict against any marriage as possible to her if she now decided against this marriage which had for some months past been regarded as fixed by herself and all her friends.

And what was the whole truth? Alice Vavasor intended to end her engagement with Mr. Grey.
And yet, why? She had not been false in her love to him. It was not that her heart had veered round and given itself to her wild cousin George. Although she felt herself constrained to part from John Grey, George Vavasor could never be her husband. Of that she assured herself fifty times. Nay, she went farther, and vowed to herself that if she did not marry John Grey, she would never marry.
