The father staggered and grew deadly pale.
“O God,” he moaned. “I have no daughter now. Child, child, much as I love you, would that you were lying beside your mother.”
Leaving the side of Calhoun, Joyce went to her father, and taking his hands in hers said, “Father, grant me but a few moments’ private interview with Captain Pennington, and I promise I will never marry him without your free and full consent. Nay, more, without your consent I will never see him again or correspond with him.”
“Joyce, Joyce!” cried Calhoun, “what are you doing? What are you promising?” and he started toward her, but she motioned him back.
“Father! Father!” she wailed, “don’t you hear?”
Mr. Crawford looked up.
“Joyce, what did you say? What do you mean?” he whispered.
Joyce repeated what she had said.
“And you mean it, Joyce? you are to stay with me?” he asked, eagerly.
“Yes, but I must have a private interview with Captain Pennington before he goes. Then it is for you to say whether I shall ever meet him again or not.”