He would make any arrangement they pleased as to their future joint lives, so long as it was an arrangement by which Kate should not become Countess of Scroope.
He did not attempt to conceal from himself the dreadful nature of the task before him.

He knew what would be the indignation of the priest.

He could picture to himself the ferocity of the mother, defending her young as a lioness would her whelp.

He could imagine that that dagger might again be brought from its hiding place.

And, worse than all, he would see the girl prostrate in her woe, and appealing to his love and to his oaths, when the truth as to her future life should be revealed to her.
But yet he did not think of shunning the task before him.