Richard Bassett was engaged to Jane Wright almost before he was aware.
Now he felt uneasy about Mary Wells, very uneasy; but it was only the uneasiness of selfishness.
He began to try and prepare; he affected business visits to distant places, etc., in order to break off by degrees.

By this means their meetings were comparatively few.

When they did meet (which was now generally by written appointment), he tried to prepare by telling her he had encountered losses, and feared that to marry her would be a bad job for her as well as for him, especially if she should have children.
Mary replied she had been used to work, and would rather work for a husband than any other master.
On another occasion she asked him quietly whether a gentleman ever broke his oath.
"Never," said Richard.
In short, she gave him no opening.

She would not quarrel.

She adhered to him as she had never adhered to anything but a lie before.
Then he gave up all hope of smoothing the matter.