"Do you indeed? Rubbish! You are my daughter and shall do as I order."
"I am a human being also, and in this instance I shall not obey."
Enistor frowned like a thunderstorm. "You dare to set your will against my will?" he demanded, looking at her piercingly.
"In this instance I do," replied Alice, meeting his gaze firmly. "I am quite willing to be an obedient daughter to you in all else. But marriage concerns my whole future and therefore I have a right to choose for myself."
"You have no rights, save those I allow you to have! In refusing Hardwick you have shown more sense than I expected. But Don Pablo you must marry!"
"Must I, father? And why?"
"He is wealthy and he adores you."
Alice in spite of her nervousness laughed outright. "I am woman enough to see that Don Pablo only adores himself. He wants a hostess to sit at the foot of his table and entertain his friends: he has no use for a wife. As to his wealth, I would sooner be happy with a pauper than with a millionaire, provided I loved him."
"Silly romance: silly romance."
"Perhaps it is. But that is my view!"