Of course such a state of things would make Lucy unhappy; but Braddock cared very little for that.

To gratify his craze for Egyptian research, he would be willing to sacrifice a dozen girls like Lucy.
Undoubtedly Lucy would refuse to be passed along from one man to another like a bale of goods, and Archie knew that, so far as in her lay, she would keep to her engagement, especially as she denied Braddock's right to dispose of her hand.

All the same, the Professor, in spite of his cherubical looks, could make himself extremely disagreeable, and undoubtedly would do so if thwarted.

The sole course that remained, should Braddock begin operations to break the present engagement, would be to marry Lucy at once.

Archie would willingly have done so, but pecuniary difficulties stood in the way.