What offer does Joel Sargent make to Marguerite at the end of the novel?

Joel Sargent calls Marguerite to his sick bed when the Fortunate Star returns to Sargent's Point to offer her the opportunity to be released from her bound-out girl contract and travel to French Canada where she will be taken in by a group of nuns. Marguerite struggles with the decision and decides to remain with the Sargents at Sargent's Point.