Her great
object had been to conceal Mr. Davies's desires as regards Beatrice from
her father, and her daily dread was that he might become acquainted with
them from some outside source. She knew very well that if her father
went up to the Castle to borrow money it would be lent, or rather given,
freely enough; but she also knew that the lender would almost certainly
take the opportunity, the very favourable opportunity, to unfold his
wishes as regards the borrower's daughter. The one thing would naturally
lead to the other--the promise of her father's support of Owen's suit
would be the consideration for the money received. How gladly that
support would be given was also obvious to her, and with her father
pushing Beatrice on the one side and Owen Davies pushing her on the
other, how could Elizabeth be sure that she would not yield? Beatrice
would be the very person to be carried away by an idea of duty. Their
father would tell her that he had got the money on this undertaking, and
it was quite possible that her pride might bring her to fulfil a bond
thus given, however distasteful the deed might be to her personally.
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