She knew that I had only refused my consent because it would have seemed a dishonourable action, to allow your son to marry her without your consent.

She knew how hard it had been for me to do my duty, when I saw her pining before my eyes, but I forgave her wholly, and did not altogether blame her, seeing that it was the way of Nature that young women, when they once took to loving, should put their father altogether in the second place; "It was hard to me to write that letter, for I longed to see her bonny face again.

But I thought it was my duty.

I thought so then; but I think, now, it was pride.
"From time to time she wrote to me.

I learned that you still refused to see your son, and I gathered, though she did not say much of this, that things were going badly with them.