"Not another word, Coralie. I would not take Crown Anstey from you if
the alternative were death!"
"That is very decisive," she replied, with the mocking smile I dreaded.
"We shall see."
"You will keep your word to me?" I cried, hastily. "You will say nothing
to Clare? She will soon be well. I could not bear to have any obstacles
thrown in the way of her recovery. When I leave her, my friends will
make some arrangements to spare her the shock of knowing why--at least,
for a time."
"I shall respect your wishes, Edgar. I have no desire to hurt your
sister. She is quite safe, so far as I am concerned."
It may be imagined that I did not sleep very well that night. Early on
the following morning Sir John rode over.
"The sooner we look into this affair the better," he said. "We will ride
over to Edgerton today and examine the church register."
We did so. Alas! there was no mistake; the marriage had been celebrated
on the 14th of June. The two witnesses, as she said, were Sarah Smith
and Arthur Ireton. The marriage service had been performed by the
Reverend Henry Morton.
The entry was perfectly regular, no flaw in it.
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