"In what other way can he receive you, my dear child, than with open arms?"
"Still," said 'Margaret firmly, "I think we will wait for a little while. You will not turn me away, will you?"
"Child! child! I love you. Have I not two daughters?"
"And I love you," she said softly, "and I cannot bear the idea of separation."
She opened her arms to Lucy, who threw hers around her friend's neck, and rested her head on Margaret's shoulder.
"I'll not allow it! I'll not allow it!" cried Mr. Hart, pacing the room with agitated steps. "Duty--duty, before all!"
"No," responded Margaret; "love--love, before all! Lucy, go away; I must speak to this obstinate hard-hearted father alone."
"Ah! no," murmured Lucy, taking shelter now in her father's arms, who folded her to his heart, and held her there, and kissed her sad face many times "I have no hard-hearted father."
"Go out--go out!" exclaimed Margaret impetuously. "I'll not have two to one against me."
She pushed Lucy out of the room with affectionate force, kissing her first very, very tenderly. Then she began to cry, not quietly, but stormily; Mr. Hart was no less agitated than she, but he suppressed his emotion and observed her in silence.