Enter Abner, c.
Nat. Captain Freeman, would you mind saying to your daughter what you said to me last night?
Ariel. Oh, never mind about it. Don’t trouble yourself, father. I can imagine what you said, and I can be just exactly as happy if I don’t hear it.
Abner. Ariel, I don’t want you to go to acting this way with Nat. You just make him mad, and I don’t wonder. Sometimes you are enough to make St. Peter swear. Nat wants to marry you, not now, but when you graduate. I don’t see any earthly reason why you shouldn’t promise to. Nat’s a fine fellow and doing well. You haven’t anything against him?
Ariel. Certainly not, but I don’t care to promise myself to any one. Graduation is quite a long ways off yet.
Abner. Ariel, I don’t very often ask anything of you. I don’t remember that I have ever asked any very special thing. Don’t you think it’s your duty to do this first thing that I ask?
Ariel. Oh, dad, how can you make such a request in such a way? (Bursts into tears and runs out, R.)
Abner. Well, Nat, this looks mighty foolish to me. If a girl won’t, she won’t.
Nat. Do you intend to let her do as she pleases?
Abner. Let her? Good lord, do you expect me to force her into a marriage with you?