Contrary to his usual habit, the captain was silent during breakfast; and the girl’s heart, which had been brightened partly by the departure of Jasper Rodley, and partly by the thought that it was Wednesday, interpreted the silence of her father as ominous. After breakfast, she began to prepare as usual for her weekly visit to Saint Quinians’ market.
‘Bertha,’ said her father, who had lighted his pipe and was stumping up and down the room, ‘don’t hurry to-day. An hour or so cannot make much difference. I want to speak to you.’
Pale and trembling, the girl took her seat at the open window, through which streamed the early sunshine.
‘Jasper Rodley was talking to me for a long time last night,’ continued the old man. ‘I think he is a nice young fellow, and I am sure you have made an impression on him.’
Another person better versed in the art of approaching a delicate subject would have chosen a more circuitous mode of procedure; but the simple, blunt, old sailor knew very little about conversational wile and artifice, and could only go straight to the point.
Bertha did not answer, but sat motionless, with her eyes fixed on the shining rocks and the tumbling sea beyond.
So her father continued: ‘And I don’t think you could do better, in case he should make any proposal to you about—about marriage, than accept him. In fact, it is my wish that you should do so.’
Bertha remained silent for some moments; then she moved from her seat, placed herself on the stool by her father’s side, took his hand in hers, and said: ‘Father, my dearest wish is to please you and to do all that you wish. I have but one other friend in the world besides you, and no other relation. You have been the best of fathers to me, and I have tried to be a good daughter to you; but I cannot, oh, I cannot obey you in this!’
‘But, my lass,’ continued the old man, who was evidently moved by the earnest manner in which the girl spoke, ‘Jasper Rodley is a man of a thousand—good-looking, of respectable birth, and doing well. He would make you happy, and another important thing—he would not take you from me.’
‘Oh, it is not that, father—no, no!’ exclaimed the girl.