"Certainly not. I am a human being and have the right to----"
"You have the right to do nothing," broke in her father desperately. "See here, my girl, you are making a great mistake by not letting me guide you. Had you been open about that amethyst cross, I should never have allowed you to give it to George Walker. Its possession means more than you think. The two thousand a year depends upon its production."
"Oh!" Lesbia opened her eyes widely. "I see. Then you are willing that I should marry George if you get this two thousand."
"Yes," said Hale bluntly, "but for circumstances which do not concern you--I prefer that you should marry Sargent."
"Marriage with anyone concerns me a great deal," said Lesbia coolly, "and I decline to marry a man I do not love. As to the cross: it was my own property left to me by my mother, and if its production will bring me two thousand a year I am very sorry it is lost."
"I did not say that it meant two thousand a year to you," said Hale uneasily, and with a scowl.
"Pardon me, father. I assume that, since I am the owner of the cross. However, it is lost and neither I nor you know where to find it. That being the case I refuse to marry Captain Sargent and shall marry George."
"You have sent him away: you forget that."
"I can bring him again to my feet."
"Lesbia Lesbia! you are playing with fire."