When, at a late hour, she and her brother rose to take their departure, so heavy a storm was raging that the earl pressed them to stay for the night, and to this arrangement Godfrey and his sister assented, the former little foreseeing that his stay would have a remarkable bearing on the events of the future.
"Well, Ivar," said the earl, when the two found themselves alone. "What do you think of Beatrice?"
"She has grown devilishly handsome."
"She is a girl whom any man might be proud to marry."
Ivar was resting his head upon his hand, and his face was hidden in shadow: therefore the earl did not perceive the sudden change in his son's expression.
"Marry?" echoed the viscount.
"I want to see you married, Ivar, and to no one but Beatrice."
"The devil!" muttered Ivar uneasily; and then, aloud, he added, "Does Trixie know of this wish of yours?"
"I have occasionally hinted at it."