"Feist--Feist--can't you talk to her? Tell her it's madness--tell her she's ruining herself." "Why, Miss Bleema, there's nothing much a--a stranger like me can say at a time like this. It's only unfortunate that I happened to be here. If I were you, though, I think I'd take a little time to think this over. Sometimes a young girl--." "I have thought it over, Mr. Feist. For weeks and weeks I've thought of nothing else. That's how sure I am--so terribly sure." "I won't have it, I tell you! I'll wring his--" "'Sh-h-h, Pelz. If you'll take my advice, you'll handle this thing without threats. Why not, Miss Bleema, even if you do feel so sure, give yourself a little more time to--" "No! No! No!" "Just a minute now. If you feel this way so strongly to-night, isn't it just possible that to-morrow, when you wake up, you may see things differently?" "I tell you I'm going to France with him--on our honeymoon. It's all fixed if--moms--dad--won't you please--darlings--can't you see--my happiness--" "O God, Roody, were ever parents in such a fix?" "Listen to me, Miss Bleema, now: I'm an old friend of the family, and you don't need to take exception to what I'm going to suggest. If your heart is so set on this thing, all right then, make up your mind it's an engagement and--" "By God, Feist, no!" "Wait, Pelz, I tell you you're making a mistake with your state of excitement." "Let Mr. Feist talk, Roody." "Make up your mind as I was saying, Miss Bleema, that this engagement exists between you and--and this young man. Then, instead of doing the hasty thing and marrying next week, you remain here a happy, engaged girl until the company returns in three weeks, and meanwhile you will have time to know your own mind and--" "No! No! No! I do know it! It's all fixed we're--" "That's a fine idea of Mr. Feist's, Bleema darling. For mamma's sake, baby. For grandma's. If it's got to be an engagement, hold it until after he gets back. Don't go rushing in. Take time to think a little. France is no place for a honeymoon now--submarines and all." "Oh, I know! You hope he'll get sunk with a submarine." "Shame, Miss Bleema; shame!" "All mamma means, darling, is take a little time and get a--a trousseau like a girl like you has to have. If your heart is so set on it, can't you do that much to please mamma? That much?" "There's a trick. You want me to wait and then--" "Miss Bleema, is my promise to you enough that there's no trick? On my respect for your parents and grandmother, there's no trick. If it is only to please them, wait those few weeks and do it more dignified. If it's got to be, then it's got to be. Am I right, Pelz?" Mr. Pelz turned away, nodding his head, but with lips too wry to speak. "O my God, yes! Mr. Feist, you're right. Bleema, promise us! Promise!" "Just a matter of a few weeks more or less, Miss Bleema. Just so your parents are satisfied you know your own mind." "I do!"