'Quite natural!' and, in his great satisfaction, he took a long sip out of his wine-glass.
'Although I had conducted myself from the first with the utmost circumspection,' pursued Martin, 'I had not managed matters so well but that my grandfather, who is full of jealousy and distrust, suspected me of loving her.

He said nothing to her, but straightway attacked me in private, and charged me with designing to corrupt the fidelity to himself (there you observe his selfishness), of a young creature whom he had trained and educated to be his only disinterested and faithful companion, when he should have disposed of me in marriage to his heart's content.

Upon that, I took fire immediately, and told him that with his good leave I would dispose of myself in marriage, and would rather not be knocked down by him or any other auctioneer to any bidder whomsoever.' Mr Pinch opened his eyes wider, and looked at the fire harder than he had done yet.
'You may be sure,' said Martin, 'that this nettled him, and that he began to be the very reverse of complimentary to myself.

Interview succeeded interview; words engendered words, as they always do; and the upshot of it was, that I was to renounce her, or be renounced by him.
Now you must bear in mind, Pinch, that I am not only desperately fond of her (for though she is poor, her beauty and intellect would reflect great credit on anybody, I don't care of what pretensions who might become her husband), but that a chief ingredient in my composition is a most determined--' 'Obstinacy,' suggested Tom in perfect good faith.

But the suggestion was not so well received as he had expected; for the young man immediately rejoined, with some irritation, 'What a fellow you are, Pinch!' 'I beg your pardon,' said Tom, 'I thought you wanted a word.' 'I didn't want that word,' he rejoined.