He knew where the hereditary taint still lurked; he viewed with horror the bare possibility of its reappearing one day in the children of his friend's only daughter; and he positively refused his consent to the marriage engagement.
The result was that the doors of the Abbey and the doors of Mrs.
Elmslie's house were closed to him.

This suspension of friendly intercourse had lasted but a very short time when Mrs.Monkton died.
Her husband, who was fondly attached to her, caught a violent cold while attending her funeral.

The cold was neglected, and settled on his lungs.
In a few months' time he followed his wife to the grave, and Alfred was left master of the grand old Abbey and the fair lands that spread all around it.
At this period Mrs.Elmslie had the indelicacy to endeavor a second time to procure my father's consent to the marriage engagement.

He refused it again more positively than before.

More than a year passed away.