But before Dolly left her new-found relation's house, it was all

arranged between them. She was to come there at once as his

adopted daughter; was to take and use the name of Merrick; was to

see nothing more of that wicked woman, her mother; and was to be

married in due time from Sir Anthony's house, and under Sir

Anthony's auspices, to Walter Brydges.

She wrote to Walter then and there, from her grandfather's

consulting-room. Numb with shame as she was, she nerved her hand

to write to him. In what most delicate language she could find,

she let him plainly know who Sir Anthony was, and all else that had

happened. But she added at the end one significant clause: "While

my mother lives, dear Walter, I feel I can never marry you."




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