He came to claim Mary as his promised wife, or send them forth as beggars.

The house and all that it contained, even to their jewels, were his; for Greville had died, owing him debts to an amount which even the sale of all they possessed could not entirely repay.

He had it in his power to arrest the burial of the scarcely cold corpse, to stain the name of the dead with undying infamy; and he vowed that he would use his power to its utmost extent, if Mary's consent were not instantly given.

Four-and-twenty hours he gave her to decide, and departed, leaving inexpressible wretchedness behind him, on the part of Mrs.Greville, and the calm stupor of exhaustion and despair pervading Mary's every faculty.
"My child, my child, it shall not be; you shall not be that heartless villain's wife.

I have health; I can work, teach, do anything to support us, and why, oh, why should you be thus sacrificed?
Mary, Mary, you will live, my child, to bless your desolate and wretched mother.