“Ah well, there may be some truth in that.”
“There is—there is a great deal of truth in it. If you don’t know your own mind now you never will; but it’s of no use you making any attempt to oppose your father’s expressed wishes,” he added, with a smile and a kiss. “No dutiful daughter would do that, you know.”
“Oh, then, according to your showing I am to have no voice in the matter?”
“Your word is law—I obey it most implicitly; but you will not be so cruel as to—well, cast me off.”
“No, I don’t say that.”
“Well, then, what do you say?”
“That if I am not your wife, I’ll be no man’s wife, John. That’s what I say.”
Ashbrook uttered an expression of delight.
“Oh, Patty, my own, my dear, dear Patty!” he ejaculated.
“And so you and father have settled the business between you—eh?”