"Marriage?"
"Humph! I think your father will have something to say to that."
"My father will deny me nothing that he thinks will conduce to my happiness."
"No doubt. But marriage with this violinist creature hardly comes under that heading. You know nothing about him."
"I dare say my father does," retorted Ruth.
"Very probably," said the elder lady, with venom. "In fact, he may know sufficient to forbid you entertaining the preposterous idea of becoming Mrs. Webster. You are a fool, Ruth! Because the man is handsome and a great musician--I deny neither his looks nor his talents--you have developed a romantic passion for him. I should not be doing my duty did I fail to warn your father of this folly. To-morrow Mr. Webster will leave this house for ever."
"Oh!" cried Ruth with scorn. "And I, no doubt, will marry Geoffrey Heron. I know your plans, Aunt Inez. But I'm not for sale, thank you."
"Don't be insolent," cried Mrs. Marshall, with cold fury. "Mr. Heron loves you."
"Very probably," rejoined Miss Cass, carelessly. "But then, you see, I do not love him."
"Nevertheless, you will become his wife."