Why does Catherine refuse to promise her dying father never to marry Morris Townsend, even though she does refuse Townsend's final proposal?

This was simply a part of her independent streak. Sloper didn't want Catherine to marry Morris because he felt the man was only after her money. Catherine knew this to be untrue. She couldn't promise because she refused to lie to a dying man, and she knew herself well enough to know that if marriage were offered it would be a possibility.

This was simply a part of her independent streak. Sloper didn't want Catherine to marry Morris because he felt the man was only after her money. Catherine knew this to be untrue. She couldn't promise because she refused to lie to a dying man, and she knew herself well enough to know that if marriage were offered it would be a possibility.

Why does Catherine refuse to promise her dying father never to marry Morris Townsend, even though she does refuse Townsend's final proposal?

In Chapter 33, at the end of Dr. Sloper's life, many years after Townsend has deserted Catherine, Dr. Sloper presses and presses her to promise never to marry Townsend. Catherine does not declare that she still wants to marry Townsend. In fact, she says truthfully that she very seldom thinks of him. But she will neither promise nor explain. Why?

Well, just take a look at the question.