"
"Have you not lately renewed your promise?" said the younger with quiet
surmise. She had divined Man Number One.
"That was wrung from me by a threat."
"Yes, it was. But I think when any one gets coupled up with a man in the
past so unfortunately as you have done she ought to become his wife if
she can, even if she were not the sinning party."
Lucetta's countenance lost its sparkle. "He turned out to be a man I
should be afraid to marry," she pleaded. "Really afraid! And it was not
till after my renewed promise that I knew it."
"Then there is only one course left to honesty. You must remain a single
woman."
"But think again! Do consider----"
"I am certain," interrupted her companion hardily. "I have guessed very
well who the man is. My father; and I say it is him or nobody for you."
Any suspicion of impropriety was to Elizabeth-Jane like a red rag to
a bull. Her craving for correctness of procedure was, indeed, almost
vicious. Owing to her early troubles with regard to her mother a
semblance of irregularity had terrors for her which those whose names
are safeguarded from suspicion know nothing of. "You ought to marry
Mr. Henchard or nobody--certainly not another man!" she went on with a
quivering lip in whose movement two passions shared.
"I don't admit that!" said Lucetta passionately.
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