Part 5 (2/2)
He shrugged his shoulders, and taking both my hands in his looked into my face with a trivial smile, so little in accord with the intensity of my feelings that I almost shrieked with pain.
”Do you think I would allow my dear girl to demean herself in any such way as that? No, no! Love in a cottage is a delightful theory, but put into practice it becomes terribly disappointing.”
I drew away my hands from him and sat for some moments in silence.
”I think it is best that our engagement should come to an end,” I said presently.
He made a sigh of resignation. ”That is for you to decide. It rests with you, of course.”
”I agree with you that it would be very foolish of us to marry without my father's consent, Mr. Dale.”
He drew himself up a little, and looked at me as if hurt. ”Are you angry with me, Virginia?”
”Angry? Why should I be angry?”
”Then why call me Mr. Dale?”
”Because,” I answered quietly and firmly, though I felt my anger rising, ”unless you are to be my husband, you must be Mr. Dale.”
”Can we not be friends?” he asked in a dejected tone.
”We can never be anything else,” I answered with some ambiguity; and I rose and rang the bell.
The servant entered. ”Tell Mr. Harlan, please, that I would like to speak to him.”
”I think we are acting for the best,” he said, after an awkward pause.
”I am sure we are, Mr. Dale.” It was undignified, it may be, to betray my feelings, but my love was too strong to die without a murmur.
My father looked inquiringly at us as he entered. His face seemed to me almost haggard.
I said at once, ”Father, we have made up our minds that you are right.
It would be madness in us to marry without your consent. The credit of our decision belongs to Mr. Dale. He has proved to me that our engagement should come to an end.”
My father turned toward him with a scornful smile, appreciating, I think, the gentle sarcasm of my words. But I doubt if Roger did, for he added immediately,--
”Yes, sir; I cannot consent to the sacrifice your daughter is prepared to make.”
”I am glad that she as well as you have come to your senses, and I thank you for making the only amends possible for having endeavored to enter my family contrary to my desire, by teaching my daughter her duty. I have no doubt that we shall both be very grateful to you in the future.”
This time Roger perceived that he was being laughed at, for his cheeks flushed. But he recovered his composure, and looking at me, said,--
”I trust I may continue to come to see you as usual.”
I trembled all over at his words, but I controlled myself, and answered,--
”If you wish.”
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