You think you can thwart my purposes
or mould them as you like. We'll try it. I told you I had many things to
do to-night: I have one more than I dreamed of on hand. I wish to be
alone."
Mark gazed wistfully at the speaker without stirring from his seat. "I
know what your intention is perfectly well. You mean to follow her. I
believe it would be quite in vain; you have misjudged Cecil Tresilyan,
if you fancy that she would alter her determination twice. But you might
give her great pain, and compromise her more cruelly than you have done
already. There are obstacles now in your way that you could not
encounter without causing open scandal. Her brother's suspicions are
fairly roused by this time, and he can not help doing his duty: he may
be weak and credulous, but he is no coward. There is no fear of farther
interference from me: my part is played. But I do beseech you to pause.
Supposing the very worst--that you could still succeed in persuading
Cecil to her ruin--are you prepared deliberately to accept the
consequences of the crime? You are far more experienced in such matters
than I: do you know a single instance of such guilt being accomplished
where _both_, before the year was ended, did not wish it undone? I do
not pretend to be interested about your future; but I believe I am
speaking now as your dearest friend might speak.
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