‘Why, father?’
‘Because, look here. I’ve been telling you to make yourself miserable for life by marrying a man you despise and dislike, just so that I may get off the punishment that’s due to me. I’m an old man, and in the ordinary course of things, I can’t have many years before me. You’re a girl with all your life before you, and yet I’m wicked enough to tell you to give up all your long life so that my few years shouldn’t be disturbed.’
‘But father’—— began Bertha.
‘Let me speak!’ interposed the old man. ‘I’ve been doing a wicked thing all these four years; but I know what’s right. When this man asks you to be his wife to-night, you say “No;” mind, you say “No.” If you don’t, I will; and you won’t marry without my permission.’
‘Dear father, you leave it to me. I do not promise anything except that by no act of mine shall one hair of your head be touched.—Let us talk of other things, for Jasper Rodley will be here soon.’
So they walked up and down until the sun began to sink behind the hills inland and the air grew chilly. They had scarcely got into the house, when Jasper Rodley appeared. He bowed formally to Bertha, and offered his hand to the captain, which was declined. ‘Miss West,’ he said, ‘I think I have given you fair time for decision. I have not been so exacting as circumstances justified.’
Bertha said nothing in reply, but sat in a chair by the window, and looked out on the sea as if nothing unusual was taking place.
So Jasper Rodley continued: ‘I will speak then at once, and to the point. Miss West, will you accept me for your husband?’
‘No, I will not,’ replied Bertha, in a low, firm voice.
Mr Rodley was evidently unprepared for this, and looked at her with open mouth. ‘That is your final answer?’ he asked, after a pause. ‘You are prepared to see your father, whom you love so dearly, taken from here in custody to be brought up as a common felon?’