"What is your idea? Have you made any plans?"
"Not yet—only, that I shall tell her at once, if I may, and let her decide. If she is willing, the wedding may go on as planned."
A light came into the older man's face, though he looked troubled.
"Well said, Charles! Perhaps you may succeed. But I fear, I fear. Nevertheless, your noble action helps me to hold up my head and look her father in the eye. If I have one son who is a scoundrel, at least I have one who is not, and who is willing to face his brother's obligations."
They went in then and sat down to a dinner of which both were able to partake more enjoyably than either had supposed possible.
"Charles, isn't there going to be an awful time when we get there?" whispered Betty, as they passed out to the carriages.
"I hope not, Betty," said Charles, with a solemn light in his eyes that made the girl wonder.
Charles took his seat beside his father with hopefulness, and all that long afternoon the music of nature rang on; but now to both men the dirge was almost lost in the swelling and sounding of the wedding march.
CHAPTER VIII
All the afternoon, Madam Winthrop had steadily refused to converse about her oldest son. The party were nearing the edge of the town where the Van Rensselaers lived.