‘I have always thought it was at that time that James Belassis began to have hopes of making a good marriage for his son, and I believe he always had his eye upon one of our father’s three daughters. We were not bad-looking girls, Maud, Celia, and I; but men—marriageable men—were scarce, and it was not to be wondered at if James Belassis should make such a plan. His son would be rich, and he had had a gentleman’s education, and was not a match to be utterly despised in these parts; I think our father secretly favoured him. He wanted his daughters well married, I know.’ ‘Did Alfred Belassis fall in with his father’s plans for his future?’ asked Tor, in rather a peculiar tone. ‘Yes, I think so. He came here often, and paid us all a good deal of attention; but for several years nothing happened. I think it was four years before he even proposed to Celia. Maud had married your father by that time, and I think it was soon afterwards that he asked Celia; and they were engaged quite a long time. I used to think he didn’t really want to marry her—he kept putting it off so much. Men were generally afraid of Celia; I think that was why she never had an offer till Alfred Belassis asked her. I don’t think she ever cared very much for him; but father was for it, and she wished to be independent. I used often to fancy Alfred was half afraid of her. He was so very long in coming to the point.’ ‘When were they married?’ ‘In May, 1850—I remember I did not like them to be married in May; but Celia said it was all superstitious nonsense. Alfred would have waited till June, but Celia said if it wasn’t in May it should be in April; and then they settled for May. Celia had got quite out of patience with his “shilly-shallying.” She threatened to break off the match, if he never intended to get married.’ ‘Why didn’t he break it off, if he was so much afraid?’ ‘Oh, he never could bear her to talk like that. He was bent on the marriage, but he seemed so inclined to keep putting it off. He acted very oddly altogether. You know Celia was a good match; for I was cut out of father’s will when I married, and Maud and Celia had my fortune between them. Celia was father’s favourite, and she got the most in the end.’