Tom had no hesitation in saying and believing that the hypothetical objection being only almost, and not entirely insuperable, it might be overcome.
Mr. Elliston was not so sure of this.
"You must have seen long ago, sir," pleaded the lover, "that there were attractions at the Mumbles which I could not resist."
"You give me credit for great powers of discernment," said the old gentleman, smiling, in spite of his grave countenance. "But granted that I supposed you were attracted by the pleasure and advantage of my society, for instance—I am not sure that this warrants me in approving of your—shall I call it presumption?—in aspiring to my daughter's hand. Moreover, I may have been pleased with you as a guest, and may like you as a friend and acquaintance and welcome visitor, and yet not think you altogether a suitable match for my daughter."
"I know I am not in all respects worthy of Miss Elliston," said puzzled Tom; "and yet—"
"Let me say what I was going to say, young man," continued the elder. "And I may as well tell you at once that I have known, as well as you can tell me now, what your attraction was in coming to my house; and I have waited for some such interview as this."
"Then I may hope," said the other, "that my suit is to prosper; for I am sure, sir, you would not have permitted me to indulge expectations to disappoint them at last."
"I have waited this opportunity," continued the host, "to tell you that, much as I like you, as you are now going on, you cannot marry my daughter; and that it entirely depends on yourself whether or not Kate can ever be your wife. Now, I know as well as you can tell me what your possessions and prospects are. You have no home, properly speaking; you have no profession; your independent income was not sufficient to maintain you at college—it is swallowed up now in your personal expenses; and yet you want my girl for a wife. How do you mean to support her?"
"I'll work, sir," cried Tom, frantically; "I'll work hard, sir. I'll work the skin off my bones."
"Poor Tom! Dear Grigson!" said the gentleman more kindly than he had yet spoken, "I have no doubt you think so, but what will you work at? You cannot answer that question, so I will answer it for you. You are not fit for the law. You have no vocation, as I have often heard you say, for the Church, otherwise the living of your parish, which is in your brother's gift, might eventually come to you. But you have set this aside as out of the question, and I honour you for your honesty. Now listen: I have a living in my gift; I offer it to you, and if you choose to accept it, you shall marry my daughter as soon as she and you can agree on the subject. I have told Kate so, and now I tell you so. But you must either accept or refuse; and I should not wonder if you were to refuse it."