"Thought you were in bed by this time. Guess I should have been in bed myself but for this business. Look there"—he pointed with the handle of his razor to the table littered with papers—"that's a bit of what I've had to do for you. I kind o' think you ought to be grateful to your father, my gel."
I told him he was very kind, and then, very nervously, said:
"But are you sure it's quite right, sir?"
Not catching my meaning he laughed.
"Right?" he said, holding the point of his nose aside between the tips of his left thumb and first finger. "Guess it's about as right as law and wax can make it."
"I don't mean that, sir. I mean. . . ."
"What?" he said, facing round.
Then trembling and stammering I told him. I did not love Lord Raa. Lord Raa did not love me. Therefore I begged him for my sake, for his sake, for everybody's sake (I think I said for my mother's sake also) to postpone our marriage.
At first my father seemed unable to believe his own ears.
"Postpone? Now? After all this money spent? And everything signed and sealed and witnessed!"