played the earnest, ardent lover, and on all occasions proclaimed his
own unworthiness at the top of his loud voice. Also he hinted at large
settlements to the married sisters, who put the matter before Jane
very plainly indeed. In the end, after a few words with her father,
who pointed out that the provision which could be made for her was but
small, and that he would die more happily if he knew her to be
comfortably settled in life with a really trustworthy and generous man
such as Mr. Blake had proved himself to be, she gave way, and in due
course they were married.

In fact, the tragedy was complete, since Jane loathed her husband,
whose real nature she had read from the beginning, as much as she
adored the high-church curate from whom in some terrible hour she
parted with broken words. Even when he died a few years later, she
continued to adore him, so much that her one hope was that she might
meet him again in the land where there is no marrying or giving in
marriage. But all of this she kept locked in her poor little heart,
and meanwhile did her duty by her husband with an untroubled brow,
though those mouse-like eyes of hers grew ever more piteous.

He, for his part, did not do his duty by her. Of one side of his
conduct she was careless, being totally indifferent as to whom he
admired. Others she found it hard to bear. The man was by nature a
bully, one who found pleasure in oppressing the helpless, and who
loved, in the privacy of his home, to wreak the ill-temper which he
was forced to conceal abroad. In company, and especially before any of
her people, he treated her with the greatest deference, and would even
make loud laudatory remarks concerning her; when they were alone there
was a different tale to tell, particularly if she had in any way
failed in promoting that social advancement for which he had married