Em. raised her head. Her face was pale, and her eyes were full of tears; but she answered firmly: “Ronald, you know my heart; I must not take time to consider whether I shall obey my dear father or not. I must not marry without his consent—I will not, dear father! Ronald, listen and be sure of this—if it should ever be right that we should marry, my dear father will consent; for he has nothing except our welfare in view. But do not mistake me, be sure of this also, that I will never marry without his consent,” Em. added, and covered her face with her hands to conceal the tears that were ready to stream from her eyes. “There, young gentleman, you have your answer from her as well as from me. She will not marry without my consent. If it should ever happen to be proper for you to marry I will give my consent. As that is not at all likely to occur, why, you had better not hope for it. And let me repeat, in this I have nothing but your happiness and hers at heart,” said John in earnest kindliness. Ronald Bruce stamped viciously, exclaiming: “If there is anything in the world I detest, it is to suffer a grievous wrong and to be told that it is intended as a benefit.” “Yes, I know,” said John. “Children always rebel ag’in the physic that is to cure ’em, or the whipping that is to reform ’em, although we always tell ’em it’s for their good. But ‘sich is life.’” CHAPTER XVII THE RESCUE She took the fruits of my advice;— And he, repulsed—a short tale to make— Fell into a sadness, thence into a fast, Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness. SHAKESPEARE. “Mammy says, how if you don’t come in to breakfast it will all be sp’ilt,” were the prosaic words that cut short this trying interview, as little Molly put her smoothly-brushed black head into the door. “Run and tell mammy we will be there immediately,” said John. The little lass sped away on her errand. “Come, sir! Come!” exclaimed John cheerfully. “Our boys were out among the partridges on Saturday afternoon and bagged a rare lot of fat ones. The mother has dressed them for breakfast, and we mustn’t let them spoil by waiting! Come, Em., little woman, cheer up! Nobody’s dead and nobody’s dying!” Now it was the first impulse of Ronald Bruce to decline John Palmer’s further entertainment, and to hurry away without waiting for breakfast, but a glance from Em.’s imploring eyes restrained him, and he sulkily followed John and herself to the dining-room, where Susan, with the brightest smiles, bade him good-morning. As they seated themselves at the table Em. purposely took a chair with her back to the window so that her troubled face might be thrown into shadow and escape the notice of her mother.