An evasive answer. Why didn’t he make it simple, and say “No”?
“Some people are prejudiced, but you have no family ties, and are not religious. I don’t want Julie to marry Martin, he’s vulgar; they are peasants, common cattle drivers; his grandfather was a waiter—I can’t think of it, it’s too horrible!”
Floyd tried to be fair.
“But if Julie likes him better—”
“She does not; I’m sure of it. She is very impressionable. Martin has a kind of brute force; you know him. He’ll talk her into it. It will be a terrible misfortune for her; it will ruin her life! I must make it impossible; I must!”
Floyd was speechless with excitement. She had her arms around him, clinging to him.
“Julie is a strange girl, at the mercy of inherited instincts—she will be safe with you.”
Why did she say that? What was wrong with Julie? Floyd began to take Julie’s part against her mother.
“Mrs. Gonzola, be calm, I beg of you. You know I have wanted Julie all my life; you know I want her now. If she loves Martin better, what—what—can I do?”
“No, no, she will tell you herself,” Mrs. Gonzola glided out of the room. Floyd wiped his forehead. What did it all mean? Why was she so afraid of Martin? What was he doing there, anyhow? Martin had been open with him, now he was conspiring with her mother. No, he would do nothing underhand. He would give Martin a chance to get his answer as agreed. Julie must be free to choose.