You will see that having
persuaded him to advance the money I could not refuse to carry out my
share of the bargain."
"Well," said the Squire, "this is all new to me."
"Yes," she answered, "and I should never have told you of it had it
not been for this sudden change in the position of affairs. What I
did, I did to save our family from ruin. But now it seems that Mr.
Cossey has played us false, and that we are to be ruined after all.
Therefore, the condition upon which I promised to marry him has not
been carried out, and my promise falls to the ground."
"You mean that supposing he lives, you will not marry Edward Cossey."
"Yes, I do mean it."
The Squire thought for a minute. "This is a very serious step, Ida,"
he said. "I don't mean that I think that the man has behaved well--but
still he may have given up the mortgages to Quest under pressure of
some sort and might be willing to find the money to meet them."
"I do not care if he finds the money ten times over," said Ida, "I
will not marry him. He has not kept to the letter of his bond and I
will not keep to mine."
"It is all very well, Ida," said the Squire, "and of course nobody can
force you into a distasteful marriage, but I wish to point out one
thing. You have your family to think of as well as yourself.
Pages:
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351