For aught he knew as yet that might still be possible.

But were he to do so, he would disgrace his family, and disgrace himself by breaking the solemn promise he had made.

And in such case he would be encumbered, and possibly be put beyond the pale of that sort of life which should be his as Earl of Scroope, by having Captain O'Hara as his father-in-law.

He was aware now that he would be held by all his natural friends to have ruined himself by such a marriage.
On the other hand he could, no doubt, throw the girl over.

They could not make him marry her though they could probably make him pay very dearly for not doing so.