'But,' it went on, 'be assured, sweetheart, that unless they marry me by
force, as they have threatened to do, I will not budge from my promise.
And, Thomas, should I be wedded thus against my will, I shall not be
a wife for long, for though I am strong I believe that I shall die of
shame and sorrow. It is hard that I should be thus tormented, and for
one reason only, that you are not rich. Still I have good hope that
things may better themselves, for I see that my brother Wilfred is
much inclined towards your sister Mary, and though he also urges this
marriage on me to-day, she is a friend to both of us and may be in
the way to make terms with him before she accepts his suit.' Then the
writing ended with many tender words and prayers for my safe return.
As for the letter from my sister Mary it was to the same purpose. As
yet, she said, she could do nothing for me with Lily Bozard, for my
brother Geoffrey was mad with love for her, my father was too ill
to meddle in the matter, and Squire Bozard was fiercely set upon the
marriage because of the lands that were at stake. Still, she hinted,
things might not always be so, as a time might come when she could speak
up for me and not in vain.
Now all this news gave me much cause for thought. More indeed, it awoke
in me a longing for home which was so strong that it grew almost to a
sickness.
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