'I know it is so. He could not help himself. He was tied to her.'
'Mark is a Runham. A Runham may betray a woman, but never marry one who has no fortune.'
'More is the reason why you should give one to Kainie.'
'Were I to make you my heir,—there is no saying,—he might take you for the sake of this place and my savings; and, by Heaven, I will have no Runham own acres of mine, if I can prevent it!'
'He would not do that—he could not take me. He is too just and true to throw over Kainie. He may think ill of me, but I do not think so badly of him. I tried to buy of her the rights she had in him, but she would not sell them. Then I saw it was all up between Mark and me.'
'This is strange—this is very strange!' said Drownlands, turning a perplexed face on the girl as he paced the room. 'I know what is in a Runham better than you. The Runhams marry for money, not for love. Come here, Zita. What would you say were you to discover that you were mistaken about Mark and Kainie?'
'I am not mistaken.'
'Suppose, some day, that you found that he was free?'
She was silent.