He acknowledged that he had bound himself not to do so.

And then, in spite of all that he said about the mendacity of Castle Quin, he did believe the little history.

And it was quite out of the question that he should marry the daughter of a returned galley-slave.

He did not think that any jury in England would hold him to be bound by such a promise.

Of course he would do whatever he could for his dear Kate; but, even after all that had passed, he could not pollute himself by marriage with the child of so vile a father.