Some offenses are unforgivable, and high in the list ranks the folly of separating a wealthy old man from his promised bride.
Now that a reprieve was seemingly impossible, he faced his misfortunes with a dour courage.

It had been a difficult and thankless task during the past month to stave off pressing creditors.

With Iris in Bootle and Bulmer her devoted slave, Verity would have weathered the gale with jaunty self-confidence.

But that element of strength was lacking; nay, more, he felt in his heart that it could never be replaced.

He was no longer the acute, blustering, effusive Verity, who in one summer's afternoon had secured a rich partner and forced an impecunious sailor to throw away a worn-out ship.