Let who would cast her off, he would not.

If it were fated that he should have to sit in his old age at the same table with that man whom of all men he disliked the most, he would meet his fate as best he might.

Anything to him would be preferable to the loss of his daughter.
Such being his feelings, he hardly knew how to take part with Eleanor against the archdeacon, or with the archdeacon against Eleanor.

It will be said that he should never have suspected her .-- Alas! he never should have done so.

But Mr.Harding was by no means a perfect character.