But you must remember that I promised her poor old grandfather--the man who died a few days ago--that I would watch over her interests with patient fidelity, that I would be her friend and protector, if ever the hour should come in which she would need friendship and protection.

I am not going to forget this promise, or to neglect its performance; and in order to be true to my word, I am bound to make myself acquainted with the circumstances of her married life, and the character of her husband." "Cannot you be satisfied with knowing that she is happy ?" "I have seen her, Sir David, and am by no means assured of her happiness." "And yet it was a love-match on both sides.

Holbrook, as I have told you, loved her passionately." "That passionate kind of love is apt to wear itself out very quickly with some men.

Your bailiff's daughter complained bitterly of Mr.Holbrook's frequent absence from the Grange, of the dulness and loneliness of my poor girl's life." "Women are apt to be exacting," Sir David answered with a deprecating shrug of the shoulders.

"My friend Holbrook has the battle of life to fight, and could not spend all his days playing the lover.