In fact, it was an
urgent entreaty, for Viola's own sake, that he would release her from
her promise. Dermot was shooting at Erymanth, and neither he nor I
knew of this letter till Harold had acted. He rode at once to Arked,
saw Lady Diana, and declared himself convinced that the engagement,
having no chance of sanction, ought to be given up. Rather than keep
Viola in the wearing state of resistance and disobedience her mother
described, he would resign all hopes of her.
Lady Diana went to her daughter with the tidings, that Mr. Alison saw
the hopelessness of his suit, and released her from her promise.
"You have made him do so, mamma," cried Viola. "If he releases me I
do not release myself."
Finally, Lady Diana, astonished to find Harold so reasonable and
amenable, perceived that the only means of dealing with her daughter
was to let them meet again. Of course no one fully knows what passed
then. Harold told me, the only time he spoke of it, that "he had
just taken out his own heart and crushed it!" but Viola dwelt on each
phrase, and, long after, used to go over all with me. He had fully
made up his mind that to let Viola hold to her troth would neither be
right nor good for her, and he used his power of will and influence
to make her resign it. There was no concealment nor denial of their
mutual love. It was Viola's comfort to remember that.
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