Part 10 (2/2)
”That is true, mynheer,” I said ”I only waited an opportunity to tell you that we plighted our troth during the attack of the Quabies on this house”
”Allee ti at his beard; ”the troth that is plighted in blood is apt to end in blood”
”A vain superstition to which I cannot consent,” interrupted my father
”Perhaps so,” I answered ”I know not; God alone knows I only know that we plighted our troth e thought ourselves about to die, and that we shall keep that troth till death ends it”
”Yes,forward across the scored yelloood table, her chin resting on her hand and her dark, buck-like eyes looking him in the face ”Yes, my father, that is so, as I have told you already”
”And I tell you, Marie, what I have told you already, and you too, Allan, that this thingthe table with his fist ”I have nothing to say against you, Allan; indeed, I honour you, and you have done hty service, but it may not be”
”Why not, mynheer?” I asked
”For three reasons, Allan, each of which is final You are English, and I do not wish lishman; that is the first
You are poor, which is no discredit to you, and since I ahter cannot marry a poor hter and I are leaving this country, therefore you cannot marry her; that is the third,” and he paused
”Is there not a fourth,” I asked, ”which is the real reason? Nahter to marry someone else”
”Yes, Allan; since you force hter to her cousin, Hernando Pereira, a e; no lad, but one who knows his own mind and can support a wife”
”I understand,” I answered cal ”But tell me, mynheer, has Marie affianced herself--or perhaps she will ansith her own lips?”
”Yes, Allan,” replied Marie in her quiet fashi+on, ”I have affianced myself--to you and no other man”
”You hear, mynheer,” I said to Marais
Then he broke out in his usual excitable ued, he rated us both He said that he would never allow it; that first he would see his daughter in her grave That I had abused his confidence and violated his hospitality; that he would shoot irl That she was ato the law he could dispose of her in ; that certainly I should not do so, and much more of the same sort
When at last he had tired himself out and s:
”My father, you know that I love you dearly, for sinceto each other, have we not?”
”Surely, Marie, you are my life, andso, I acknowledge your authority over e that you have the right to forbid me to e, at any rate--I shall not marry him because of my duty to you But”--here she rose and looked him full in the eyes, and oh! how stately she seerace!--”there is one thing, ht to force me to marry any other ht; and , I say that first I will die To Allan here I have given ood or for evil, and if I rave unwed If my words hurt you, I pray you to pardon me, but at the same time to remember that they are my words, which cannot be altered”
Marais looked at his daughter, and his daughter looked at Marais At first I thought that he was about to curse her; but if this were so, soe his mind, for all he said was:
”Intractable, like the rest of your race! Well, Fate may lead those who cannot be driven, and this e--that is, for two years or more--you may not marry without my consent, and have just promised not to do so Presently we trek from this country into far-off lands Who knohat may happen there?”
”Yes,” saidfor the first tis, and will settle theseto His will, Henri Marais? Listen,” he went on after a pause, for Marais loohter for various reasons, of which one is that you think him poor and a richer suitor has offered himself after a reverse of fortune has reater, the true reason, is his English blood, which you hate so h by God's mercy he saved her life, you do not desire that he should share her life Is it not true?”
”Yes, it is true, Mynheer Quaterlish are bullies and cheats,” he answered excitedly
”And so you would give your daughter to one who has shown hilish and plotter against his King, Hernando Pereira, whom you love because he alone is left of your ancient race”