"I certainly should do so. Come, Mrs. Pelham Odin, don't part two hearts in this cruel way. Let your daughter marry Macandrew."
The actress sighed. "I think I shall have to," she said, after a pause, "circumstances and Charity's will are too strong for me. It shall be as you say." And she held out her hand.
Haskins kissed it again. "I am sure that you will have no cause to regret having taken my advice."
"I hope not, Mr. Haskins. And after all this may be one of those marriages which are said to be made in heaven. But Mr. Macandrew wants to marry Charity at once, and she has yet to fulfil one month's engagement at the Belver Theatre."
"Macandrew can wait for one month, surely."
"He must. Charity cannot break her engagement without paying forfeit, and the managers will be sorry to lose her. Certainly she has only one dance in The Moon-Fay, but she is a great favorite with the public, and when she retires from the stage she will be greatly missed. I assure you, Mr. Haskins, that Charity is giving up a very brilliant career to become the wife of an obscure solicitor."
"Macandrew will not always be obscure. He will rise high in his profession, and will make plenty of money."
"Of course Lady Euphemia is against the marriage."
"What of that? Macandrew is the chief person to be considered."
Mrs. Pelham Odin did not pay very strict attention to this speech. Her eyes were on the polished floor, and she was thinking deeply. "I can guess why Lady Euphemia Macandrew disapproves," she said hesitatingly: "my girl is a dancer, for one thing; and she is also a waif."