I went next to the man whom I am to marry.

I implored him to release me from my promise.
He refused.

I declared I would break my engagement.

He showed me letters from his sisters, letters from his brothers, and his dear friends--all entreating him to think again before he made me his wife; all repeating reports of me in Paris, Vienna, and London, which are so many vile lies.

"If you refuse to marry me," he said, "you admit that these reports are true--you admit that you are afraid to face society in the character of my wife." What could I answer?
There was no contradicting him--he was plainly right: if I persisted in my refusal, the utter destruction of my reputation would be the result.