"My dear," said the Duke, rising up and coming to her, "I am very glad to see you. It is good of you to come to me." Then he took her in both his hands and kissed her forehead and her lips. She, as she put her face up to him, stood quite still in his embrace, but her eyes were bright with pleasure.
"Shall I leave her?" said Silverbridge.
"For a few minutes."
"Don't keep her too long, for I want to take her all over the house."
"A few minutes,—and then I will bring her up to the drawing-room." Upon this the door was closed, and Isabel was alone with her new father. "And so, my dear, you are to be my child."
"If you will have me."
"Come here and sit down by me. Your father has already told you that;—has he not?"
"He has told me that you had consented."
"And Silverbridge has said as much?"
"I would sooner hear it from you than from either of them."