"Pretty creature, I find my son
bears me more malice than she does for the robbery that was perpetrated
on her. It was too tempting, Harry. Nature will repair her loss, but
at out time of life we must beg, borrow, or steal."
"That was the least matter," said the Major gravely.
"This is the reason why I wished to see you," said my Lady, laying her
white hand on his, "I wanted to explain."
"Cousin, cousin, had not you better leave it alone?" said Major Delavie.
"You know you can always talk a poor man out of his senses at the
moment."
"Yet listen, Harry, and understand my troubles. Here I was pledged,
absolutely pledged, to give my son to Lady Aresfield's daughter. I
do not know whether she may not yet sue me for breach of contract,
though Wayland has repaid her the loans she advanced me; and on the
other hand, in spite of all my precautions, Mar had obtained a sight
of your poor daughter, and I knew him well enough to be aware that to
put her entirely and secretly out of his reach was the only chance
preserving her from his pursuit. I had excellent accounts of the
worthy man to whom I meant her to be consigned, and I knew that when
she wrote to you as a West Indian queen you would be able to forgive
your poor cousin. I see what you would say, but sending her to you
was impossible, since I had to secure her both from Amyas and from
Mar.
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