"Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very
  decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that
  her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never
  for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the
  gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the
  loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began
  to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as
  far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There
  were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the
  girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the
  deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys
  to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to
  bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it
  would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and
  prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to
  come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and
  hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening
  on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss
  Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to
  his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not
  listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her,
  and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished
  away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a
  four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of
  events, Mr. Windibank!"