“A promise made by you without my sanction is not binding. And—listen to me, if you please—I have obtained Mr. Conolly’s express assurance that if you wish to withdraw, he is perfectly willing that you should.”
“Of course, he would not marry me if I did not wish it.”
“But he is willing that you should withdraw. He leaves you quite free.”
“Yes; and, as you told me, he is quite confident that I will keep faith with him; and so I will. I have had a letter from him since you saw him.”
“What!” said Mr. Lind, rising also.
“Dont let us quarrel, papa,” said Marian, appealingly. “Why may I not marry whom I please?”
“Who wants to prevent you, pray? I have most carefully abstained from influencing you with regard to Sholto Douglas. But this is a totally different question. It is my duty to save you from disgracing yourself.”
“Where is the disgrace? Mr. Conolly is an eminent man. I am not poor, and can afford to marry anyone I can respect. I can respect him. What objection have you to him? I am sure he is far superior to Sholto.”
“Mr. Douglas is a gentleman, Marian: Mr. Conolly is not; and it is out of the question for you to ally yourself with a—a member of the proletariat, however skilful he may be in his handicraft.”
“What is a gentleman, papa?”