“Father, you must not talk to me like that. Uncle Josiah came home this morning, and I made arrangements to meet him here to-night.”
“And he was conveniently out, I suppose, so you might meet this fellow here alone.”
“If you refuse to listen to reason, you may think what you like. I love that man you’ve been maligning!” she cried, her eyes filling with angry tears.
“You love him? Are you brazen enough to stand there and say that to my face?” he shouted, losing his self-control. “Him! You! I’ve a mind–––Why, you silly little sentimental fool. You go so far as to flaunt–––”
“Mr. Fox, allow me to explain,” interrupted the minister.
The Elder did not heed the note of warning in the steady voice, but clutching his walking-stick with nervous fingers he started toward his daughter.
“Stand back!”
Mr. Fox stood back, almost falling against the wall. The minister’s voice was as hard as his own.
“It seems that the time has come for a reckoning,” said Mr. McGowan. “You have 340 stood in my way long enough. Elizabeth, will you kindly step into my study?”