They loved each other dearly, and--But about this period George began to haunt her tearfully and imploringly, and at last she went crying to Edward, and said her high and holy duty was plain before her--she must not let her own selfish desires interfere with it: she must marry "poor George" and "reform him." It would break her heart, she knew it would, and so on; but duty was duty.

So she married George, and Edward's heart came very near breaking, as well as her own.

However, Edward recovered, and married another girl--a very excellent one she was, too.
Children came to both families.

Mary did her honest best to reform her husband, but the contract was too large.

George went on drinking, and by and by he fell to misusing her and the little ones sadly.