I have heard from Marian's own lips that she would have written a candid confession of the truth had she been free to do so.

It was her husband who prevented her giving me notice of my desertion." "I cannot pretend to explain his conduct," Sir David answered gravely.

"I only know that I pledged myself to keep his secret; and felt bound to do so, even at the cost of a lie." "And this man is your friend.

You must know whether he is worthy to be Marian Nowell's husband.

The circumstances of her life do not seem to me favourable to happiness, so far as I have been able to discover them; nor did I think her looking happy when we met.