feast in the city. Of course I accepted. Dinner over, and a decent time having been spent at the dessert, the old lady rose, saying:
“I shall leave you two together, for I daresay you have a great deal to talk about.”
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We did talk. Each of us told our own story. With hers you shall forthwith be made acquainted in her own words. Seated by me, she began:
“I am the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Shirlock, of Rokeby Castle, near Reigate. My father originally was very far from wealthy. All the property and money came from my mother’s side. Unfortunately, I lost my mamma when young. By the marriage settlements, which had been conceived in a most grasping manner by my maternal grandfather, who disliked my father, and which were shamefully worded, it was ordered that if my mother died first, the child or children should, on coming of age, inherit all the property (about 10,000l. a year) and the house, and that my father should only be allowed 500l. per annum for the rest of his life. I mention this as a slight excuse for my poor father’s most shameful conduct. When I was about seventeen years old he began to get very anxious. He could not realise the idea of coming down from being master of Rokeby Castle and a large fortune to a paltry pittance. He knew that even if I did not assert my legal rights, a husband, sooner or later, probably would do so for me. Had he dared, he would have killed me. He often said as much. When I was about eighteen, he told me he had found a husband for me whom I must prepare to marry. Now, at that age I really was averse to the idea of matrimony, and when I was introduced to my would-be lord and master, my dislike knew no bounds. After a little time I discovered that my father had entered into an agreement that if Mr. married me, my husband and myself were to have 1000l. a year, and my father the rest till his death. Mr. actually bound himself in writing to give up to my father 9000l. a year and Rokeby Castle if my father would make me marry him. Now, the money and the castle I never cared about; my father might have had those with all my heart, as he ought during his lifetime; but to be bought and sold, to be compelled to marry an odious man (for odious he was in every way), to be compelled to marry an odious man, to be made a—”
Miss Shirlock burst into tears. After a time she continued:
“I need hardly say that on discovering the underplot I resisted more stoutly than ever every entreaty, every threat, every bribe, made use of