“It’s very simple. I went to live with her because I fell in love with her, and she wouldnt marry me. She had a horror of marriage; and I was naturally not very eager for it myself. Matters must be settled between us as if we were husband and wife. Paying her off is all nonsense. She doesnt want money; and I want the child; so she has the advantage of me. Only for the drink I would go back to her to-morrow; but I cant stand her when she is not sober. I bore with it long enough; and now all I want is to get Lucy out of her hands and be quit of her, as you say—although it seems mean to leave her.” “She must certainly be a very extraordinary woman if she refused to marry you. Are you sure she is not married already?” “Bosh! Not she. She likes to be independent; and she has a sort of self-respect—not like Constance and the old Countess, who hunted me long enough in the hope of running me down at last in a church.” “If you offered her marriage, that certainly frees you from the least obligation to stay with her. She reserved liberty to leave you; and, of course, the same privilege was implied on your part. If you have no sentimental wish to return to her, you are most decidedly not bound in honor to.” “I’m fond enough of her when she is sober; but I loathe her when she is fuddled. If she would only give up drinking, we might make a fresh start. But she wont.” “You must not think of doing that. Get rid of her, my dear fellow. This marriage of Marian’s has put the affair on a new footing altogether. I tell you candidly, I think that under the circumstances your connexion with Conolly’s sister is a disgraceful one.” “Hang Conolly! Everybody thinks of Marian, and nobody of Susanna. I have heard enough of that side of the question. Marian married him with her eyes open.” “Do you mean to say that she knew?” “Of course she did. Conolly told her, fairly enough. He’s an extraordinary card, that fellow.” “Reginald Lind told my mother that the discovery was made by accident after the marriage, and that they were all shocked by it. It was he who said that it was Conolly’s _cousin_ that you were with.” “Uncle Rej. is an old liar. So are most of the family: I never believe a word they say.” “Marian must have been infatuated. I advise you to break the connexion. She will be glad to give you the child if she sees that you are resolved to leave her. She only holds on because she hopes to make it the means of bringing you back.” “I expect youre about right. She wants me to meet her here to-day at half past three. Thats the reason I came.” “Do you know that it now wants twenty minutes of four?” “Whew! So it does. I had better go and look for her. I’m very much obliged to you, old fellow, for talking it over with me. I suppose you dont want to meet her.” “I should be in the way at present.” “Then good-bye.”