“Father, I insist upon your forcing him to stay.”
“Force,” said Sir Thomas; “ah, there’ll be no need of that. The job will be to force him to go. But surely, child, thou’lt never think of setting thy cap at him after his engagement with the founder’s child?”
“I? Set my cap! Oh, father,” she cried, with a weak giggle, “that is too good. I absolutely hate him.”
“Then I’ll tell him we wish him—”
“To stay as long as he can, father. Go at once.”
“But, my dear, he is going to-morrow. He told me so when he was on his way to the moat to fish, and I told him I was glad to hear it.”
“You told him that, father?” cried Anne, with flashing eyes.
“Indeed I did,” said Sir Thomas.
“Then go at once,” cried Anne, imperiously, “and bid him stay.”
“But it will be like eating my words, my child.”