visits to her in London. He had, indeed, been
told by Montague himself that, let the cost be what
it might, the engagement should be and in fact had
been broken off. He thoroughly believed the man’s
word, but put no trust whatever in his firmness.
And, hitherto, he had no reason whatever for supposing
that Mrs Hurtle had consented to be abandoned.
What father, what elder brother would allow a daughter
or a sister to become engaged to a man embarrassed
by such difficulties? He certainly had counselled
Montague to rid himself of the trammels by which he
had surrounded himself;— but not on that
account could he think that the man in his present
condition was fit to engage himself to another woman.
All this was clear to Roger Carbury. But then it had been equally...