"I will not!"
"You have an obstinate head!" cried the doctor again becoming angry. "In this you have a remarkable likeness to my niece. 'I will not!' and now the whole world might rise against it; but it must be! Exactly Jane's manner, exactly her tone; just as if you had learned of her. One is just like the other; you would make a nice, 'married pair!'"
"Doctor, please spare me this foolish jesting!" broke out the professor with great violence, at the same time stamping furiously.
For a moment Doctor Stephen stood utterly dumb before this passionate outbreak of his amiable patient, then he said, in a tone of sincere astonishment.
"I believe that even you can be rough and violent!"
Fernow frowned and turned away.
"Well it was only a jest!" said the doctor apologetically. "I know that you and Jane stand half upon a war-footing; but you can become very angry now, professor! I notice that, for the last two months, you have not been the same person you used to be!"
Fernow did not defend himself against the reproach with a single word; he preserved an obstinate silence.
"Well, to go back to the main business," began the Doctor anew--but this time in a low voice--"you will not accept my proposition?"
"No!"