I could give you at least one instance in which a fair girl met her death from punishment inflicted by her father because she would not consent to wed the man of his choice.

Can we blame Dorothy if she would lie or rob or do murder to avoid a fate which to her would have been worse than death?
When you find yourself condemning her, now or hereafter in this history, if you are a man ask yourself this question: "If I had a sweetheart in Dorothy's sad case, should I not wish her to do as she did?
Should I not wish, if it were possible by any means, that she should save herself from the worst of fates, and should save me from the agony of losing her to such a man as Sir George had selected for Dorothy's husband?
Is it not a sin to disobey the law of self-preservation actively or passively ?" Answer these questions as you choose.

As for myself, I say God bless Dorothy for lying.

Perhaps I am in error.

Perhaps I am not.