"She's giving herself away," he murmured. "That little vixen, Fluff, is right--she's in love with the fellow, and she's throwing herself at his head; it's perfectly awful to think of it. She has forgotten all about her old father. I'll be a beggar in my old age; the Firs will have to go; I'll be ruined, undone. Oh, was there ever such an undutiful daughter? I must go to her. I must hobble up to that distant spot as quickly as possible; perhaps when she sees me she may pause before she irrevocably commits so wicked an act. Oh, how lame I am! what agonies I'm enduring! Shall I ever be in time? He's close to her--he's almost touching her--good gracious, he'll kiss her if I'm not quick! that little wretch Fluff could have reached them in a twinkling, but she won't do anything to oblige me this morning. Hear her now, twanging away at that abominable air, 'Sweethearts'--oh--oh--puff--puff--I'm quite blown! This walk will kill me! Frances--I say, Frances, Frances." The feeble, cracked old voice was borne on the breeze, and the last high agonized note reached its goal. "I am coming, father," responded his daughter. She turned to Arnold and held out her hand. "God bless you!" she said. "Is your answer final, Frances?" "Yes--yes. I wish I had not kept you a week in suspense; it was cruel to you, but I thought--oh, I must not keep my father." "Your father has you always, and this is my last moment. Then you'll never, never love me?" "I can not marry you, Philip." "That is no answer. You never loved me." "I can not marry you." "I won't take 'no' unless you say with it, 'I never loved you; I never can love you.'" "Look at my father, Philip; he is almost falling. His face is crimson. I must go to him. God bless you!" She took his hand, and absolutely, before the squire's horrified eyes, raised it to her lips, then flew lightly down the path, and joined the old man. "Is anything wrong, father? How dreadful you look!" "You--you have accepted the fellow! You have deserted me; I saw you kiss his hand. Fah! it makes me sick. You've accepted him, and I am ruined!" "On the contrary, I have refused Philip. That kiss was like one we give to the dead. Don't excite yourself; come into the house. I am yours absolutely from this time out." "Hum--haw--you gave me an awful fright, I can tell you." The squire breathed more freely. "You set that little Fluff on to begin it, and you ended it. I won't be the better of this for some time. Yes, let me lean on you, Frances; it's a comfort to feel I'm not without a daughter. Oh, it would have been a monstrous thing had you deserted me! Did I not rear you, and bring you up? But in cases of the affections--I mean in cases of those paltry passions, women are so weak." "But not your daughter, Frances Kane. I, for your sake, have been strong. Now, if you please, we will drop the subject; I will not discuss it further. You had better come into the house, father, until you get cool."