‘Being at the same time engaged to marry him,’ observed the old man.
‘Oh yes,’ said Merry. ‘But I told the wretch—my dear Mr Chuzzlewit, I told him when he asked me—that if I ever did marry him, it should only be that I might hate and tease him all my life.’
She had a suspicion that the old man regarded Jonas with anything but favour, and intended these remarks to be extremely captivating. He did not appear, however, to regard them in that light by any means; for when he spoke again, it was in a tone of severity.
‘Look about you,’ he said, pointing to the graves; ‘and remember that from your bridal hour to the day which sees you brought as low as these, and laid in such a bed, there will be no appeal against him. Think, and speak, and act, for once, like an accountable creature. Is any control put upon your inclinations? Are you forced into this match? Are you insidiously advised or tempted to contract it, by any one? I will not ask by whom; by any one?’
‘No,’ said Merry, shrugging her shoulders. ‘I don’t know that I am.’
‘Don’t know that you are! Are you?’
‘No,’ replied Merry. ‘Nobody ever said anything to me about it. If any one had tried to make me have him, I wouldn’t have had him at all.’
‘I am told that he was at first supposed to be your sister’s admirer,’ said Martin.
‘Oh, good gracious! My dear Mr Chuzzlewit, it would be very hard to make him, though he is a monster, accountable for other people’s vanity,’ said Merry. ‘And poor dear Cherry is the vainest darling!’
‘It was her mistake, then?’