“What has kept you? What has happened?” But the words died away on her
lips.
It had been sufficient for her to look at Daniel’s sad face to feel that
a great misfortune had befallen her.
“Ah! you had been right in your fears,” she said, sinking into a chair.
“Alas!”
“Speak: let me know all.”
“Your father has come to me, and offered me your hand, Henrietta,
provided I can obtain your consent to his marriage with Miss Brandon.
Now, listen to me; and then you can decide.”
Faithful to his promise, he thereupon told her every thing he had
learned from Maxime and the count, suppressing only those details which
would have made the poor girl blush, and also that terrible charge which
he was unwilling to believe.