"You are a foolish, strong-headed girl, Brenda. Van Zwieten wants to marry you, as I have told you, and he is----
"I won't marry him. I detest the man."
"And you fancy you are in love with that scamp of a Burton?" said Scarse, frowning.
"Harold is not a scamp, father. He is noble and honest, and everything that is good. I will marry no one but him."
"I shall never give my consent--never!"
"Then I must do without it," replied Brenda, determinedly. "I do not want to behave otherwise than as a daughter should, father, but I love Harold, and I hate Van Zwieten."
"Don't be silly," said the M.P., querulously. "Van Zwieten is well off. He is a good match for you. He can give you a good position."
"In the Transvaal, I suppose," scoffed Brenda.
"Yes. And where could you live better than in a new land, where the vices of civilization have not penetrated! I don't speak of Johannesburg, that sink of iniquity, but of Pretoria, and of those towns where the Boer element exists pure and simple, With your husband in the Government you can help him to build up an ideal state."
"I don't want to build up anything. Harold and I can be happy by ourselves."