“An altercation! About what, may I ask?”
“About her sister. She asked me in pretty plain terms what my intentions were, proposed my entering the lists fairly and honourably with Major Stultz; and, when I demurred, she talked angrily of despising me, and so forth. Depend on it, she will call you to account before long.”
“I am quite ready to be called to account.”
“You do not mean to say you think seriously of marrying!”
“I should be but too happy! There is no such luck in store for me!”
“You think she would refuse you?”
“I don’t know; but I know my father would refuse his consent.”
“Run off with her, and ask his consent afterwards.”
“I wish I could, but that is impossible here. Marriage is with us a civil as well as a religious act. You have no idea of the formalities attending it, or the certificates necessary to make it valid; besides which, my being in the army increases the difficulty. That cursed caution-money!”
“Caution-money? What is that?”