The girl appears to be a young woman of decision.

She explained at once her circumstances, and it struck us both that to go through the ceremony of marriage would smooth all our difficulties.

We can easily get the bond annulled later on." Henry Fordyce put down his cigar again.
"I am off to town to-night.

You won't mind, will you ?" Michael went on.
"Just to see if everything is all right, and to get her guardian's consent and a special license, and I shall be back by the six o'clock train on Thursday in time to get the ceremony over that night; and then, by the early morning express, if you'll wait till then, we'll go South together, and so for Paris and freedom!" Henry actually rose from his chair.
"And the bride ?" he asked.
Michael laughed.

"Oh, she may go to the moon, for all I care; she leaves directly after the ceremony with her certificate of marriage, which she means to brandish in the face of her relations, who are staying at the Inn, and so exit out of my life! It is only an affair of expediency." "It is the affair of a madman." Michael frowned, and his firm chin looked aggressive.
"It is nothing of the kind.