`` Yes , I do . I was married three years ago . '' `` Why was I not told this ? '' Alan 's voice was stern , although he did not mean it to be so , and she shrank and shivered . Then she began in a low monotonous tone from which all feeling of any sort seemed to have utterly faded . `` Three years ago Mother was very ill -- so ill that any shock would kill her , so the doctor Father brought from the lake told us . A man -- a young sea captain -- came here to see Father . His name was Frank Harmon and he had known Father well in the past . They had sailed together . Father seemed to be afraid of him -- I had never seen him afraid of anybody before . I could not think much about anybody except Mother then , but I knew I did not quite like Captain Harmon , although he was very polite to me and I suppose might have been called handsome . One day Father came to me and told me I must marry Captain Harmon . I laughed at the idea at first but when I looked at Father 's face I did not laugh . It was all white and drawn . He implored me to marry Captain Harmon . He said if I did not it would mean shame and disgrace for us all -- that Captain Harmon had some hold on him and would tell what he knew if I did not marry him . I do n't know what it was but it must have been something dreadful . And he said it would kill Mother . I knew it would , and that was what drove me to consent at last . Oh , I ca n't tell you what I suffered .
I was only seventeen and there was nobody XXXXX advise me .
although at for from if in on so that to