"Dr. Etwald, I suppose?"
"No. Mr. Sarby."
"David!" ejaculated Maurice, in an astonished tone. "You wish Isabella to marry him?"
"Yes. He loves Isabella much more than you do, and he asked permission--which you didn't--to pay his addresses to her. I consented, and so," Mrs. Dallas raised her voice, "he shall marry her."
"I refuse to marry Mr. Sarby," said Isabella, vehemently. "I hate him!"
"That is no matter," replied her mother, coldly. "You must marry him."
"Must!" repeated Maurice, with great indignation.
"Yes, Mr. Alymer. Must! Must! Must! If you want an explanation of that you can ask--" Here Mrs. Dallas paused with a strange smile and added slowly: "Major Jen."
"The major! My guardian!" cried Alymer, quite thunderstruck. "Is he against me?"
"Ask him."