Barnabas wanted to kick out Emily but recognized that doing so would look bad. Instead, he spoke with a friend, who agreed that a poor girl like Emily should not be allowed to disrespect someone of Barnabas’s standing. They came up with a plan that would allow Barnabas to get rid of Emily but also “shelter his reputation” (109): Grimes, a man from down the road, would sexually assault Emily, forcing her to marry him.

Barnabas mentioned marriage with Grimes to Emily, who said she didn’t want Grimes for a husband. Barnabas retorted that she could not rely on family when she had none, saying that she needed to start seeing reality and not just her romantic dreams. However, Emily still refused. Barnabas ignored her for days; he appeared to warm to her when she played his favorite song on the piano, but when she then asked him to reconsider, he reiterated that he would not change his mind (116). However, Barnabas then brought up her affection for Ferdinando and said that if she gave Grimes a real chance and still did not want to marry him, then she wouldn’t have to. Emily agreed. Before Emily’s meeting with Grimes, Barnabas sent away Mrs.