Love is Triumphant Read Online Free

would manage together to make some money, however difficult it may seem now.'
    Then, one night, when Rosina was undressing and getting ready to go to bed, she heard someone drive up to their wing.
    Looking down from her window she saw a man slip a letter through the letter box. It was hard to see clearly from this height, and in the darkness, but she could almost have sworn that the man was Arthur Woodward.
    But why was he delivering his letter in such a secretive way, at this time of night?
    Throwing on her dressing gown, Rosina hurried downstairs. There lay the letter on the mat, and it was addressed to Miss Draycott. She snatched it up and hurried back upstairs.
    As she reached the hall Miss Draycott opened her door.
    "Where have you been at this hour?" she asked.
    "Getting something which has just been delivered for you," Rosina answered holding out the envelope.
    "Just been delivered!" Miss Draycott exclaimed.
    She took the letter and returned to her room, Rosina following her.
    "How strange, that he should write to me at such a late hour. His letters usually arrive in the morning."
    She lit the lamp, and Rosina could see that her eyes were shining.
    "It must be something special," she mused. "Something that couldn't wait. Oh Rosina, do you think – after all this time - ?"
    "Perhaps. Read it quickly."
    "Don't go. Stay a moment, and then I can share the good news with you. Then you can go to bed and sleep happily as I will do."
    Rosina smiled at her.
    "I must admit I am rather curious," she said, "as to what is in that envelope."
    It would have been truer to say that she was full of foreboding. Something told her that all was not well.
    Miss Draycott sat down on the bed, took out the letter and started to read it.
    Rosina did not move or say anything. She just waited, her eyes fixed on her friend's face.
    As Miss Draycott read the first page, then turned it over to read the second, Rosina asked in a low voice,
    "Is it good news?"
    Miss Draycott did not answer.
    Then as she finished reading, she folded up the letter.
    Putting it on her lap, she stared at the wall as if she was seeing something.
    She did not speak.
    As the minutes passed, Rosina asked gently, "What has happened?"
    For a moment Miss Draycott did not reply.
    Then she said in a voice which did not sound like her own,
    "Well, we were partly correct. This letter is to announce his intention to marry – but not to me."
    "I don't believe it," Rosina said mechanically. But in the depths of her heart, she knew that she did believe it. Sir John had been right all the time, and suddenly she hated him for it.
    "He has considered the matter," Miss Draycott said slowly, "and believes that we have no future together. He wants – " she broke off and a shudder went through her, "he wants me to return his letters."
    "Who is he marrying?" Rosina asked in a tight voice.
    "He does not say." Miss Draycott gave a forlorn smile. "Perhaps he's afraid that if I knew I would make trouble. He need not worry. I would do nothing to harm him. I hope he'll be very happy, and have everything he wants in life."
    She spoke in a soft, heart-broken voice that filled Rosina with dread. Following dread came anger.
    "I hope he won't be happy," she said through gritted teeth. "I hope he'll be as miserable as he deserves to be."
    "Don't say that," Miss Draycott said fiercely. "Don't wish him ill. I forbid you, do you understand?"
    "But why should he be happy when he's treated you like this?" Rosina cried. "What right does he have?"
    "Every right. If he finds he cannot love me then – then he is right to leave me. He can be a great man, a politician, a leader, and he must let nothing stand in his way. If I must stand aside for his welfare then – then I am willing to do so."
    "But the way he's treated you – "
    "He has done what he had to," Miss Draycott said in a shaking voice, "and I honour him for it. He will suffer no harm or scandal because of me."
    She turned a ravaged face on