That is why I accept,
although it will make my life wretched for a year."
"Do you hear what she says?" said Philip, turning to Arthur. "Do you
also agree?"
He answered boldly, and with some temper (how would he have answered
could he have seen the thousand pound cheque that was reposing upon
the table in Philip's rusty pocket-book, and known for what purpose it
came there?).
"If it had not been Angela's wish, I would never have agreed. I think
your terms preposterous, and I only hope that you have some
satisfactory reason for them; for you have not shown us any. But since
she takes this view of the matter, and because, so far as I can see,
you have completely cornered us, I suppose I must. You are her father,
and cannot in nature wish to thwart her happiness; and if you have any
plan of causing her to forget me--I don't want to be conceited, but I
believe that it will fail." Here Angela smiled somewhat sadly. "So,
unless one of us dies before the year is up, I shall come back to be
married on the 9th of June next year."
"Really, my dear Heigham, your way of talking is so aggressive, that
some fathers might be tempted to ask you not to come back at all; but
perhaps it is, under the circumstances, excusable.
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