I was surprised and asked why, whereupon he stammered some excuse, and then said abruptly:
"I suppose you'll not be married for some time at all events?"
I told him I did not know, everything depending on my father.
"Anyhow, you'll see and hear for yourself when you reach home, and then perhaps you'll. . . ."
I answered that I should have to do what my father desired, being a girl, and therefore. . . .
"But surely a girl has some rights of her own," he said, and then I was silent and a little ashamed, having a sense of female helplessness which I had never felt before and could find no words for.
"I'll write to your father," he said, and just at that moment the bell rang, and my father came into the compartment, saying:
"Now then, young man, if you don't want to be taken up to the North Pole instead of going down to the South one. . . ."
"That's all right, sir. Don't you trouble about me. I can take care of myself," said Martin.
Something in his tone must have said more than his words to my father and the Bishop, for I saw that they looked at each other with surprise.