“And you reckon on me to win the consent of Mr North. But nothing will move him, Miss Lilian: he has discovered that Mr Harry’s father is a Puseyite, and his aunt a nun in Ireland. His conviction is that Mr Harry is a treacherous foe who has got into intimacy with him for the purpose of stealing his papers and spying upon his conduct. Nothing will move him!”
“I am aware of it, so I have made up my mind to marry without his knowledge.”
“Without his knowledge! But who will marry you?”
“You, Mr Jedediah!”
“Me!”
“Yourself, my good, my dear Jedediah!”
“But,” went on Jedediah, after a moment’s consideration, “even if I were weak enough to consent to so culpable an action, such a union would not be valid in the eye of the law. Not being a member of the Established Church, I cannot celebrate a civil marriage. You must go before the Registrar; and, as you are both under age, this official will not marry you without your father’s authorisation in writing.”
“Alas! what are we to do?”
Jedediah reflected.
“What would you say if I undertook to get this authorisation for you?”