“But it is not fit. He is no more worthy of you—— Of course I am not worthy either, but still—— I must speak to your brother. Who am I to say that I am better than Ferrers? But I can’t see you sacrificed. Your life would be one long misery.”
“Please, please say nothing. Oh, forgive me, but don’t you see you are the one person who ought not to interfere?”
He looked at her with something of reproach. “If it set up an eternal barrier between you and myself, I would still try to save you.”
“But indeed, it is no use speaking to Colin. I have promised——”
“Do you care for this man?” he interrupted her.
“I have promised to marry him in the hope of helping him, and I shall keep my promise.”
“You don’t care for him. You have not even that hold over him, and how do you think you can do him any good?”
“He thinks I can, and I have promised. I am bound by that promise unless George Ferrers himself gives me release, and he won’t.”
“I’ll wring it out of him.”
The growl, like that of an angry lion, terrified Penelope. She laid her hand on her champion’s arm.