As she named Mr. Sandford, and Mr. Drew had a slight business acquaintance with him, he wrote to him, and received enlightenment.
"Miss Margaret Rivers has made up her mind to marry a man for his money, and wishes to make sure that his part of the bargain is put beyond business losses; the money is wanted for her sister, Miss Grace Rivers, and you had better take good care what you are about, as Mr. Drayton, the man in question, is as slippery as an eel."
Luckily poor Margaret knew nothing of this explanation. Mr. Drew came to Torbreck to see her. He expected to find an elderly shrewd woman, and he was more surprised than he could say, when he was suddenly confronted with Margaret.
His astonishment was so great that he stood before her speechless for a little while.
"Miss Margaret Rivers?" he said, inquiringly.
"Yes, Margaret Rivers is my name. I wrote to you. I am sorry you have had to take the trouble of coming."
"Your letter was a little difficult to understand," he said, smiling, and no longer wondering at its vague nature. How could this young girl enter into explanations with a stranger? and he was so amazed to think she was going to marry Mr. Drayton he could not get over it. What was the motive?
But Margaret, having got over the hardest part of all, her own consent, in a grave, matter-of-fact way, tried to say what she had to say plainly.
"Mr. Drayton has promised----my sister must be safe----" this was all she had to say.
"I want nothing, nothing for myself, but for her--it must be made safe."
"I do not see how that can be done unless _she_ marries Mr. Drayton. Any money arrangement must take the form of a marriage settlement."
"It is quite true. There may be a stipulation, a promise, but, forgive me, Miss Rivers, that would look like a bargain and might lead to misconception."
"It is a bargain," said poor Margaret, while her face crimsoned under his gaze; "my sister, in some way, must be made secure."
"I think I had better see Mr. Drayton's man of business," he said, finding that she cared for nothing but what could be done for her sister.
"A clear case of being bought and sold," he said to himself as he left her; "what a pretty, attractive girl! Well, I shall take care to look sharply after her interests."