Part 41 (1/2)

”My dear fellow,” he exclaimed, ”I am sure my father has spoken in a way you feel hard to bear; let me entreat you not to take notice of it. I do not ask you what he said, but I am right, am I not?”

”You are, and I was contemplating leaving the house.”

”That is just what you must not do,” exclaimed Harry. ”You came as my guest, and I cannot allow it. Our father does not know what Julia is made of; when he comes to speak to her, he will find that she can be as firm as he is. I am very certain she will not discard you, and he may find that after all he has to give in, and allow you to go away awaiting for a time when you can return and claim her, which he may possibly hope will never arrive.”

Headland was at length persuaded to do as Harry advised; indeed his own heart prompted him to remain, for even had Sir Ralph spoken to him in a still more offensive tone, he would not have left.

”You know me, Harry; and a.s.sure her that whatever your father may say, and however she may be compelled to act towards me, I shall remain pledged to her as long as there is a possibility of her becoming mine.”

”In other words,” said Harry, ”unless she is compelled to marry some one else.”

”I could not bear the thoughts of her doing so,” exclaimed Headland.

”Even then I should remain her devoted and faithful friend.”

”I am sure you would,” answered Harry. ”I will tell her all you say, though I hope you will be able to tell her yourself. And, my dear fellow, I know my little sister well enough to be very sure that no power on earth will induce her to marry any one else.”

Headland felt somewhat relieved by his conversation with his friend.

Harry knew that he had his own trials in store, and could sympathise with him thoroughly.

He had become very impatient at not being able to ride out. The doctor had brought him better accounts from Downside; that was his chief consolation. He determined to go directly Headland left Texford; he would propose a ride with Julia, and she would not refuse to accompany him thus far.

Directly Headland quitted the study, Sir Ralph summoned Julia. She well knew what was coming, and bracing herself up for the interview, appeared before her father with as calm a countenance as she could a.s.sume.

”I understand, young lady, that your brother's friend and s.h.i.+pmate, Captain Headland, has proposed to you, and that without knowing who he is, or what are my wishes on the subject, you have ventured to accept him.”

”Yes, papa, I have done so,” said Julia.

”You have acted very improperly,” remarked Sir Ralph.

”I saw nothing in Captain Headland that would make you object to him, on the contrary, everything to admire,” answered Julia, in a firm tone.

”No girl can take such a step without her parent's permission.”

”I had no reason to suppose that permission would not be given,” said Julia.

”As you are mistaken you are absolved from your promise, and I desire you to tell Captain Headland that you set him free.”

”Father,” exclaimed Julia, rising, ”if you can point out one single blemish in Captain Headland's character, if you can produce one sufficient reason, I would obey you so far as to set him free; but, at the same time, I must tell you I could never marry another. You, however, can allege no just reason why I should not marry him, and I will not utter a falsehood, and lead him to suppose that I do not love him with the most devoted affection.”

The baronet listened to his daughter with a scornful curl on his thin lips, and a flush on his brow. Seldom did he exhibit more violent signs of anger.

”I am to understand, then, that you positively refuse to discard this unknown adventurer?” said the baronet, speaking very deliberately. ”I regret that I did not use stronger language when speaking to him, but I expected to have your a.s.sistance, and wished to save a scene which might be disagreeable. I must send for him again, and explain myself more clearly.”

”Father, I entreat you not to do so,” exclaimed Julia, putting her hand on Sir Ralph's arm. ”I will speak to Captain Headland, but you cannot, you must not, insult a gallant officer, your son's friend, a guest in your house; you would not gain your end, and you would only add bitterness to my grief at having to part from him.”

”If, as I understand, he proposes to take his departure to-morrow, I will allow matters to remain as they are, you promising me that you will speak to him in the way I desire.”

”I promise that I will tell Captain Headland of your objections, and I will not act in any way that will bring discredit on the name of Castleton, of which I am as proud as any member of the family.”

Julia, with woman's tact, made the last remark, knowing that it would influence her father more than any vehement protestation she could utter.