He felt that he would be taking a mean advantage if he did that now.

She had once said to him: "I _must_ marry a rich man, Bill.

I should make any poor man miserable." He had never forgotten that, nor forgiven her for saying it--though he had never believed that it was true.
Almost as if she was reading into his mind, Bubbles said wistfully: "You won't leave off caring for me, Bill?
Not even if I marry somebody else?
Not even-- ?" She laughed nervously, and her laugh, to Donnington a horrible laugh, echoed through the dimly lit church.

"Not even," she repeated, "if I bring myself to marry Mr.Tapster ?" He seized her roughly by the arm.

"What d'you mean, Bubbles ?" he asked sternly.
"Don't do that! You hurt me--I was only joking," she said, shrinking back.