"That will not be the way, papa. You could not treat me like that."
"And how are you proposing to treat me?"
"But, papa, in whatever way I do it, I must do it. I do not say to-day or to-morrow; but it must be the intention and purpose of my life, and I must declare that it is, everywhere. I have made up my mind about it. I am engaged to him, and I shall always say so,—unless he breaks it. I don't care a bit about fortune. I thought I did once, but I have changed all that."
"Because this scoundrel has talked sedition to you."
"He is not a scoundrel, papa, and he has not talked sedition. I don't know what sedition is. I thought it meant treason, and I'm sure he is not a traitor. He has made me love him, and I shall be true to him."
Hereupon Sir Marmaduke began almost to weep. There came first a half-smothered oath and then a sob, and he walked about the room, and struck the table with his fist, and rubbed his bald head impatiently with his hand. "Nora," he said, "I thought you were so different from this! If I had believed this of you, you never should have come to England with Emily."
"It is too late for that now, papa."
"Your mamma always told me that you had such excellent ideas about marriage."
"So I have,—I think," said she, smiling.
"She always believed that you would make a match that would be a credit to the family."