regarded as worse than all the others, and which perhaps justified the
Ullathorne people in their severity. He loved to consort with low
people. He not only drank in tap-rooms with vulgar drinkers; so said
his friends, and so said his enemies. He denied the charge as being
made in the plural number, and declared that his only low co-reveller
was Roger Scatcherd. With Roger Scatcherd, at any rate, he associated,
and became as democratic as Roger himself. Now the Thornes of
Ullathorne were of the very highest order of Tory excellence.

Whether or not Mary Scatcherd at once accepted the offer of the
respectable tradesman, I cannot say. After the occurrence of certain
events which must here shortly be told, she declared that she had never
done so. Her brother averred that she most positively had. The
respectable tradesman himself refused to speak on the subject.

It is certain, however, that Scatcherd, who had hitherto been silent
enough about his sister in those social hours which he passed with his
gentleman friend, boasted of the engagement when it was, as he said,
made; and then boasted also of the girl's beauty. Scatcherd, in spite
of his occasional intemperance, looked up in the world, and the coming
marriage of his sister was, he thought, suitable to his own ambition
for his family.

Henry Thorne had already heard of, and already seen, Mary Scatcherd;
but hitherto she had not fallen in the way of his wickedness. Now,
however, when he heard that she was to be decently married, the devil
tempted him to tempt her. It boots not to tell all the tale. It came
out clearly enough when all was told, that he made her most distinct
promises of marriage; he even gave her such in writing; and having in
this way obtained from her her company during some of her little