"How am I to know what manner of influence has been used? I have a right to hear from her lips—"
"She has given you her answer in writing. That should be sufficient. I cannot have my child put to needless pain."
"You acknowledge—it is pain to her?"
"Yes."
"And you expect that she will forget me?"
"I hope so."
"What this means to me is—of course—nothing!"
A gesture again replied; a gesture so full of kindness, of regret, that Maurice was touched, even while reiterating—
"I can't and won't believe that this is really her wish! After all that passed between us—all our time together—"
"Mr. Maurice, I can only say that neither her mother nor I could consent to the engagement. If Doris had decided otherwise, we should still refuse. But she now is convinced that it cannot be. It grieves me to say this, for your sake,—yet surely you will allow that I must think first of my child's happiness."