They are not half so impetuous as you are, John.

I am only just seventeen, you know, and who is to think of marrying?
But they wanted me to give my word, and be formally betrothed to him in the presence of my grandfather.

It seems that something frightened them.
There is a youth named Charleworth Doone, every one calls him "Charlie"; a headstrong and a gay young man, very gallant in his looks and manner; and my uncle, the Counsellor, chose to fancy that Charlie looked at me too much, coming by my grandfather's cottage.' Here Lorna blushed so that I was frightened, and began to hate this Charlie more, a great deal more, than even Carver Doone.
'He had better not,' said I; 'I will fling him over it, if he dare.

He shall see thee through the roof, Lorna, if at all he see thee.' 'Master Ridd, you are worse than Carver! I thought you were so kind-hearted.

Well, they wanted me to promise, and even to swear a solemn oath (a thing I have never done in my life) that I would wed my eldest cousin, this same Carver Doone, who is twice as old as I am, being thirty-five and upwards.