"You have done your duty," said Carson, amiably; "you have obeyed your father, and you have brought me fifty thousand pounds. You do not love me, neither do I care two straws about you."
"Then why did you marry me?"
"For the money solely," he replied, shamelessly. "I served your turn, you served mine. Were I in love with you, do you think I would rest content with the purely nominal position of your husband? By no means. For the money's sake I made you my wife. I agreed to your terms because it suited me to do so. Have I ever gone contrary to you in any way?"
"No; you fulfil your part of the bargain admirably," she said scornfully.
"Then you can ask no more of me. I shall not return to the Manor House with you to hold an ignominious position. Our mutual ends are accomplished: let us part."
"Do you intend to leave me, then?" she asked, feeling herself at a disadvantage.
"I do. I shall go to London--perhaps even abroad. At all events, I intend to lead my own life."
"But think of the position I shall be placed in."
"Think of the position I am placed in," he replied emphatically.
"People will talk if you leave me so soon after our marriage."