"What is it, Nell?"
She rubbed her cheek slowly against his arm, not speaking for a second or two.
"Father, I am ready to marry Robin whenever you will."
The General's heart bounded up with an immense relief.
"Whenever I will?" he said, with an air of rallying her. "Is it not rather whenever you will? Poor Robin has been waiting long enough."
"You are quite sure he wants me: I mean soon?"
"He'd be a dull fellow if he didn't."
The General had suddenly a memory of the time when he had called Robin a dull fellow in his secret heart because he had been content to wait, endlessly to all appearances. He put the memory away hastily as an uncomfortable one.
"To be sure, he wants you soon, Nelly, my dear," he said. "As soon as your old father can give you up to him. You have always been Robin's little sweetheart from the time you were a child. He has never thought of any girl but you."
He made the speech with a gulp, as though it were distasteful to him.