asked Holmes . `` She has n't any but her brother . He 's against Paul , of course , but it wo n't matter . The girl 's fancy 's caught and she 'll go her own gait to ruin . Ruin , I tell ye . If she marries that handsome ne'er - do-well , she 'll be a wretched woman all her days and none to pity her . '' The two moved away then , and Paul lay motionless , face downward on the sand , his lips pressed against Joan 's sweet , crushed rose . He felt no anger over Byron Lyall 's unsparing condemnation . He knew it was true , every word of it . He was a worthless scamp and always would be . He knew that perfectly well . It was in his blood . None of his race had ever been respectable and he was worse than them all . He had no intention of trying to reform because he could not and because he did not even want to . He was not fit to touch Joan 's hand . Yet he had meant to marry her ! But to spoil her life ! Would it do that ? Yes , it surely would . And if he were out of the way , taking his baleful charm out of her life , Connor Mitchell might and doubtless would win her yet and give her all he could not .
The man suddenly XXXXX his eyes wet with tears .
caught felt go lay marries moved ruin spoil trying want