Now, if any hope survived in the crushed hearts of these oppressed, downtrodden Armenians, it was hope in England. The English were Christians, so they would have the will to help them; they were mighty warriors and conquerors, so they would have the power. Themselves under the pressure of a malignant, irresistible power, they had perhaps an exaggerated idea of what power could accomplish, if combined with beneficence. Certainly for a young man to marry a girl in that way, without preparation, without betrothal, without even time to make the wedding clothes, was a thing unheard of since the days of St. Gregory. Yet, what if it were the only way of saving Shushan? Hohannes spoke at last. "Yon Effendi," he asked, "have you the _right_ to do this? Is there in your own land no head of your house, no kinsman, without whose leave this thing ought not to be done? Answer, as in the sight of God." Jack held up his head proudly. "There is none," he said. "I am my own master." "Then," Hohannes resumed, "it is my mind to say to you, do what is in your heart, and may God bless you." "Then," said Jack, "with your leave, father, I will ask her." "And I, the head of her house, give her to you in the name of God." Jack looked around in perplexity. "But you know I have got to ask her," he repeated. Boy as he was when he left England, he knew that when a man wished to marry, the one indispensable preliminary was to "ask" the lady of his choice. Then arose Boghos, who had been nearly silent hitherto in a sorrow too great for words or tears. "I too her father, I give her unto thee in the Name of God," he said solemnly. "I have only, then, to ask her," Jack persisted. "Thou _hast_ asked, and we have given her." It was Hohannes who spoke now. "What yet remains to do?" Jack pulled himself together, and tried to explain. "But if she--does not like me--I can't--you know.--Don't you understand?--I must speak to her, and ask her if she will have me." The men stood silent, looking at each other. Had they spoken their thoughts, they would have said, "Heard ever any man the like of that?" Scarcely would they have been more surprised had Jack, wishing to sell his horse, announced that he could not conclude the bargain without the creature's express consent. At last Avedis threw out a modest suggestion. "This may be one of the customs of the English people, which we do not understand. No doubt they have their customs, as we have ours." Jack turned to him gratefully. "You are right, Avedis. It _is_ the custom of my country to take the 'yes' or 'no' only from the lady's lips. "A very strange custom," muttered Boghos.