g words are more sacred than any other. You have his
letter."

"Yes, but he does not say 'marry again.'"

"That is what he meant, though."

"How can you say that? How can you know?"

"Because I put the words he said to me together with that short line to
you. Mind, I don't say that he did not exaggerate my poor merits; on the
contrary, I think he did. But I declare to you that he did hope I should
take care of you and your child. Right or wrong, it was his wish, so
pray do not deceive yourself on that point."

This made more impression on her than anything else he could say, and
she said, "I promise you one thing, I will never marry any man but you."

Instead of pressing her further, as an inferior artist would, he broke
into raptures, kissed her hand tenderly, and was in such high spirits,
and so voluble all day, that she smiled sweetly on him, and thought to
herself, "Poor soul! how happy I could make him with a word!"

As he was always watching her face--a practice he carried further than
any person living--he divined that sentiment, and wrought upon it so,
that at last he tormented her into saying she would marry him SOME DAY.

When he had brought her to that, he raged inwardly to think he had not
two years to work in; for it was evident she would marry him in time.
But no, it had taken him more than four months, close siege, to bring
her to that. No word from Phoebe. An ominous dread hung over his own
soul. His wife would be upon him, or, worse still, her brother Dick,
who he knew would beat him to a mummy on the spot; or, worst of all, the
husband of Rosa Staines, who would kill him, or fling him into a prison.
He MUST make a push.

In this emergency he used his ally, Mr. Lusignan; he told him Mrs.
Staines had promised to marry him, but at some distant date. This would
not do; he must look after his enormous interests in the colony, and he
was so much in love he could not leave her.

The old gentleman was desperately fond of Falcon, and bent on the match,
and he actually consented to give his daughter what Falcon called a
little push.

The little push was a very great one, I think.

It consisted in directing the clergyman to call in church the banns of
marriage between Reginald Falcon and Rosa Staines.

They were both in church together when this was done. Rosa all but
screamed, and then turned red as fire and white as a ghost, by turns.
She never stood up again all the service; and in going home re