As all the world heard of what was going on, so did Daniel Thwaite hear it among others. He was a hard-working, conscientious¹, moody² man, given much to silence among his fellow workmen;—one to whom life was serious enough; not a happy man, though he had before him a prospect³ of prosperity which would make most men happy. But he was essentially⁴ a tender-hearted, affectionate man, who could make a sacrifice of himself if he thought it needed for the happiness of one he loved. When he heard of this proposed marriage, he asked himself many questions as to his duty and as to the welfare of the girl. He did love her with all his heart, and he believed thoroughly⁵ in her affection for himself. He had, as yet, no sufficient reason to doubt that she would be true to him;—but he knew well that an earl's coronet must be tempting⁶ to a girl so circumstanced as was Lady Anna. There were moments in which he thought that it was almost his duty to give her up, and bid her go and live among those of her own rank. But then he did not believe in rank. He utterly⁷ disbelieved in it; and in his heart of hearts he felt that he would make a better and a fitter husband to this girl than would an earl, with all an earl's temptation to vice⁸. He was ever thinking of some better world to which he might take her, which had not been contaminated by empty names and an impudent⁹ assumption of hereditary¹⁰, and therefore false, dignity. As regarded the money, it would be hers whether she married him or the Earl. And if she loved him, as she had sworn that she did, why should he be false to her? Or why, as yet, should he think that she would prefer an empty,

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