"Mrs. Fairbanks, I could never force your daughter away from you, but I shall always love her. Can I say more?"
"I have told her," said Mrs. Fairbanks between her sobs, "I will never consent to her marriage with you."
Shock's heart gave a leap.
"And what did she say?" he inquired in an unsteady voice.
"She said you would not marry her without my consent."
"And that is true," said Shock.
"And what, then, will you do?" inquired Mrs. Fairbanks.
Shock threw up his head, with joy illumining his face.
"I—we—" changing the pronoun with a sudden ecstasy of rapture, "we can wait."
"And how long, pray?" inquired Mrs. Fairbanks, scornfully.