“I—rejected—him—and went home—with my father,” said Em., utterly breaking down. “Do not weep so bitterly, my love. This lover—he _never_ acted on your forced rejection, Em.?” tenderly inquired the lady. “No—no! He would not listen to it. He said he was of age, and no one had the right to control him in a matter so near his heart,” continued Em., recovering something of her self-possession. “Go on, dear.” “He appealed to my father; but my dear father was prouder in his way than Commodore Bruce himself. He refused me to Ronald. He said that no daughter of his should ever enter any family who would not be as glad to receive her as ever he could be to give her. And that Lieutenant Bruce must never come again until he came authorized by Commodore Bruce to ask my hand.” “And so,” said the lady, “between these two stiff-necked old men—the haughty old commodore and the arrogant overseer—you are to be sacrificed! For, I suppose, as a dutiful child, you will abide by your father’s decision.” “Oh, yes, madam, for I promised my dear father never to marry without his consent, and I know he will never consent to my marriage with Ronald,” said Em., almost on the verge of breaking down again, but she succeeded in controlling herself. “So, finally, all depends upon the will of Commodore Bruce?” “Yes, madam.” “But, again, the young man—has he accepted this decision of your father?” “No, indeed, madam, no more than he accepted that of his uncle or mine! He says he will never give me up!” “He is right. Commodore Bruce must be brought to terms. Do not misunderstand me, however, my dear. I strongly disapprove of young people taking the law into their own hands in this respect, and marrying against the wishes of their parents. But Ronald’s case is an exceptional one. Commodore Bruce is not his father, nor his guardian, and has no right to dictate to him, a man of twenty-five, on the subject of his marriage, nor has he the moral right to bribe him by a rich inheritance to give up his true and honest love. With your father’s feeling on the subject I can better sympathize. I, too, if I were so blessed as to have a daughter, would object to her entering even a royal family by marriage, if they were not as proud to receive her as I to bestow her. Yes, I understand and appreciate your father’s motives. It is the old commodore who must be set right. Now, cheer up, my darling. I will be the fairy godmother who shall bring the prince back to your feet,” said the lady, pressing a kiss upon her brow. Em. looked up—gratefully, doubtfully; for how, she asked herself, could this lady, with all her great power and good will, influence Commodore Bruce to put away those strong prejudices of caste which formed a part of his very being? The Lady of Edengarden, watching her expressive face, read her thoughts and answered them as if they had been spoken.