“When your father was telling that story about the man overboard.”
“No. What did he do? Tell me, Launce.”
“I’ll tell you directly. How did it all end last night? Did your father make any sort of promise?”
“You know Richard’s way; Richard left him no other choice. Papa had to promise before he was allowed to go to bed.”
“To let Turlington marry you?”
“Yes; the week after my next birthday.”
“The week after next Christmas-day?”
“Yes. Papa is to speak to me as soon as we are at home again, and my married life is to begin with the New Year.”
“Are you in earnest, Natalie? Do you really mean to say it has gone as far as that?”
“They have settled everything. The splendid establishment we are to set up, the great income we are to have. I heard papa tell Richard that half his fortune should go to me on my wedding-day. It was sickening to hear how much they made of Money, and how little they thought of Love. What am I to do, Launce?”
“That’s easily answered, my darling. In the first place, you are to make up your mind not to marry Richard Turlington—”
“Do talk reasonably. You know I have done all I could. I have told papa that I can think of Richard as a friend, but not as a husband. He only laughs at me, and says, ‘Wait a little, and you will alter your opinion, my dear.’ You see Richard is everything to him; Richard has always managed his affairs, and has saved him from losing by bad speculations; Richard has known me from the time when I was a child; Richard has a splendid business, and quantities of money. Papa can’t even imagine that I can resist Richard. I have tried my aunt; I have told her he is too old for me. All she says is, ‘Look at your father; he was much older than your mother, and what a happy marriage theirs was.’ Even if I said in so many words, ‘I won’t marry Richard,’ what good would it do to us? Papa is the best and dearest old man in the world; but oh, he is so fond of money! He believes in nothing else. He would be
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