Godfrey made a hasty and secret marriage with Molly Farren, a woman of poor reputation, and his brother Dunstan threatened Godfrey that he would make his wellguarded secret known to their father and thereby bring down the Squire’s wrath on him; besides, this disclosure would also mar his chances with Nancy Lammeter. Godfrey was deeply frustrated by his brother’s diabolic shrewdness and agreed to let Dunstan sell his favorite horse, Wildfire, to remunerate the money.
On the way to the hunt where he hoped to sell the horse, Dunstan passed Silas’ cottage. This sight gave him the idea of borrowing the money from Mamer, but he rather liked the idea of vexing his brother, so he continued to the hunt and made the sale. However, instead of turning over the horse at once, he rode in the chase and killed the animal on a stake.
