I am sure that I shall never have to reproach you with the
words. I will tell you. I have virtually promised to marry Mr. Edward
Cossey, should he at any time be in a position to claim fulfilment of
the promise, on condition of his taking up the mortgages on Honham,
which he has done."
Harold Quaritch took a step back and looked at her in horrified
astonishment.
"/What?/" he asked.
"Yes, yes," she answered hastily, putting up her hand as though to
shield herself from a blow. "I know what you mean; but do not think
too hardly of me if you can help it. It was not for myself. I would
rather work for my living with my hands than take a price, for there
is no other word for it. It was for my father, and my family too. I
could not bear to think of the old place going to the hammer, and I
did it all in a minute without consideration; but," and she set her
face, "even as things are, I believe I should do it again, because I
think that no one woman has a right to destroy her family in order to
please herself. If one of the two must go, let it be the woman. But
don't think hardly of me for it," she added almost pleadingly, "that
is if you can help it."
"I am not thinking of you," he answered grimly; "by heaven I honour
you for what you have done, for however much I may disagree with the
act, it is a noble one.
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