"Certainly not," Randall replied. "It has been a very narrow escape."
"And you wanted to force her to marry him last fall, did you not?"
"We did, we did, fools that we were."
"Then Jess was right in taking matters into her own hands."
"She really was; I see it now. That girl has a great deal of common sense."
"I suppose you will let her choose for herself after this?"
"The man she wishes to marry, do you mean? H'm, I guess she has chosen already, from every appearance. I'm satisfied, if you are. I certainly would like to have John as a son. He would be a great help to me in my business. I wish I could say the same about my own boys."
"And if they should marry, you would get another son, while I should get a daughter. It would be a satisfactory arrangement on both sides, would it not?"
"It certainly would. Nothing would please me better."
Randall was greatly surprised as Mrs. Hampton rose suddenly to her feet and stood before him. She was trembling violently, and she laid her hand upon the table for support.