“That's just it. That's just the difficulty, isn't it?”
“But it is a difficulty which must be solved. You will have to say one of the two.”
“How dare I say yes?”
“They love each other.”
“What right have I to say no?”
“It is their life-happiness which is at stake.”
“Exactly, exactly; therefore, if I say no, it will be to condemn them both to great misery, and misery which they have done nothing to deserve.”
“It certainly will—it will break Miriam's heart. And what reason can you give them for saying no? It will seem all the harder to them, because it will seem so unreasonable and unnecessary, so unjustifiable and wanton. They will feel that it is an act of wilful cruelty, on the part of a selfish, tyrannical old man.”
“I know it, I know it,” I groaned. “And yet, on the other hand, if I say yes——”
“If you say yes, you will assure to them the greatest happiness their hearts can desire.”