“He has just acted as I expected, like a gentleman,” she said, “making no unpleasantness. He is unfortunate in his connections, poor young man; but I always said that there was the makings of a real gentleman in young Dirom. You see I have just been very right in my calculations. He has taken my letter in the right spirit. How could he do otherwise? He had the sense to see at once that Robert could never give his daughter to a ruined man.” “There could not be two opinions on that subject,” said her husband, still more satisfied with himself. “There might, I think, be many opinions,” the minister said, mildly. “If two young people love each other, and stick to it, there is no father but will be vanquished by them at the end.” “That’s all your sentimentality,” said Mr. Ogilvie. “Let them come and tell me about their love as you call it, they would soon get their answer. Any decent young woman, let alone a girl brought up like Effie, would think shame.” “Effie will not think shame,” said Mr. Moubray: “if the young man is equal to Mrs. Ogilvie’s opinion of him. You will have to make up your mind to encounter your own child, Robert--which is far harder work than to meet a stranger--in mortal conflict. For Effie will never take your view of the matter. She will not see that misfortune has anything to do with it. She will say that what was done for good fortune was done for bad. She will stand by him.” “Hoots,” said Mrs. Ogilvie. “I am not ashamed to name the name of love for my part. There was no love on Effie’s side. No, no, her heart was never in it. It is just a blaze of generosity and that kind of thing. You need have no trouble so far as that is concerned. When she sees that it’s not understood, her feeling will just die out, like that lowing of thorns under the pot which is mentioned in Scripture: or most likely she will take offence--and that will be still better. For he will not press it, partly because he will think it’s not honourable, and partly because he has to struggle for himself and has the sense to see it will be far better not to burden himself with a wife.” “If you were so sure there was no love on Effie’s side, why did you let it go on?” said Mr. Moubray with a little severity. “Why did I let it go on? just for the best reason in the world--because at that time he was an excellent match. Was I to let her ruin the best sitting down in all the countryside, for a childish folly? No, no; I have always set my heart on doing my duty to Robert’s daughter, and that was just the very best that could be done for her. It’s different now; and here is another very fine lad, under our very hand. One that is an old joe, that she has known all her life, and might have been engaged to him but for--different reasons. Nothing’s lost, and he’s just turned up in the very nick of time, if you do not encourage her in her daft ideas, Uncle John.”