“Oh, what is it, Arthur?” she said, with a little pant of fear.
“Be brave, dear, and I will tell you.” And in somewhat choky tones, he recounted word for word what had passed between her father and himself.
She listened in perfect silence, and bore the blow as a brave woman should. When he had finished, she said, with a little tremor in her voice:
“You will not forget me in a year, will you, Arthur?”
He kissed her by way of answer, and then they agreed to go together to Philip, and try to turn him from his purpose.
Breakfast was not a cheerful meal that day, and Pigott, noticing the prevailing depression, remarked, with sarcasm, that they might, for all appearance to the contrary, have been married for twenty years; but even this spirited sally did not provoke a laugh. Ten o’clock, the hour that was to decide their fate, came all too soon, and it was with very anxious hearts that they took their way to the study. Philip, who was seated in residence, appeared to view Angela’s arrival with some uneasiness.
“Of course, Angela,” he said, “I am always glad to see you, but I hardly expected——”
“I beg your pardon for intruding, father,” she answered; “but, as this is very important to me, I thought that I had better come too, and hear what is settled.”
As it was evident that she meant to stay, Philip did not attempt to gainsay her.
“Oh, very well, very well—I suppose you have heard the terms upon which I am prepared to consent to your engagement.”