A NIGHT’S reflection caused Martha Jopling to change her mind—a woman’s privilege—with regard to the secret marriage. She had thought things over during the night, and had come to the conclusion that she had been hasty and foolish. It seemed to her now as if she had been under some strange spell which had prevented her seeing clearly, or understanding the position in which she stood. She recalled the warning uttered by the mysterious Bob from London, on the occasion when Tinker visited her at her father’s woodland home. Bob had come upon them unawares, and had said, referring to Tinker who had then departed, “An adder would be less dangerous than Mr. Tinker.” Nor could she forget that Pym had striven hard to corrupt her father by endeavouring to persuade him to swear that he had seen a man
