`Myuncleisright，’shesaid。`Ihavecausedtroubleandanxietyenoughtoyou，andtoallaboutme。Letmecausenomore，Marian——letSirPercivaldecide。’
Iremonstratedwarmly，butnothingthatIcouldsaymovedher。
`Iamheldtomyengagement，’shereplied；`Ihavebrokenwithmyoldlife。TheevildaywillnotcomethelesssurelybecauseIputitoff。
No，Marian！onceagainmyuncleisright。Ihavecausedtroubleenoughandanxietyenough，andIwillcausenomore。’
Sheusedtobepliabilityitself，butshewasnowinflexiblypassiveinherresignation——Imightalmostsayinherdespair。DearlyasIloveher，Ishouldhavebeenlesspainedifshehadbeenviolentlyagitated——itwassoshockinglyunlikehernaturalcharactertoseehercoldandinsensibleasIsawhernow。