“You’re scoffing, Prigson; but listen, you set store by the respect of your fellow-creatures—mine, for instance; you told me once that I was better than many men.”
“Well remembered; but have I forfeited that respect?”
“Not quite, yet—but still——”
“The greater part? Good. Now the proof of the sum; Van Arlen, I want to ask you for the hand of your daughter.”[[37]]
“Prigson, do remember that we are discussing serious matters.”
“But, Van Arlen, I’m speaking as seriously as I ever did in my life. Your Leida is a nice, pleasant, merry girl, with a good heart, and—excuse my having seen a little deeper into your domestic economy than perhaps you like—Leida knows how to keep house.”
“Your age!”
“Do you reckon by the heart or the head?”
“You might be her father!”
“If I had six more daughters, like you, I wouldn’t envy their position. I don’t understand, Van Arlen, why you should make any difficulty about it; a father of seven girls ought surely to be glad enough to get rid of one of them.”