He pressed her to his heart.
“I ask no more,” he replied, with deep emotion. “We will settle the social distinctions after we are married.”
That night before he parted with her, he obtained from her a conditional assent to be his. The condition imposed by her was, that his father and his sister should give their consent to the union, and receive her as became the position of the wife of the eldest born of the house.
Mark placed the fulfilment of that condition in the rosiest light, and left her to depart for home on the following morning.
He arrived at his destination at a most critical moment in his father’s life.
CHAPTER IV.—MR. CHEWKLE’S MISSION
Avaunt and quit my sight—let the earth hide thee!
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;