"You mean that if you could not you would take your own way?"
"Not exactly."
"And say farewell to me and leave your home?"
"I would never say farewell to you. I do not think I would leave my home in any such way."
"What would you do?"
"Love you and die daily at your side. When you saw me suffering you would give me my desire, because it would be my life."
"I would not. If confident I was right I would not do wrong to please you. And it would be far better for you to die than to make yourself a wanderer in improper company and a prodigal daughter."
"Father, fear to say such words. I am God's daughter. I am your daughter and I do not forget I am a daughter of the honorable clan of Macrae. Such words are an insult to me, to yourself, and to every Macrae, living or dead." She rose as she spoke and with a white, angry look was leaving the room when her father laid his hand tenderly on her shoulder and said:
"Promise me you will not marry anyone without my consent."
"For nearly two years, Father, I could only make a runaway marriage, liable to be temporarily broken at your will."