The old man half rose from his seat as he uttered the words, one by one, in his deep voice. Then he dropped into his chair again and stared at the young girl in downright amazement. “What in the name of common sense induced you to do such a mad thing?” he asked very quietly, as soon as he had drawn breath. Katharine had expected that he would be surprised, as was rather natural, and regained her coolness and decision at once. “We’ve loved each other ever since we were children,” she said, speaking calmly and distinctly. “You know all about it, for I’ve told you before now just how I felt. Everybody opposed it--even my mother, at last--except you, and you certainly never gave us any encouragement.” “I should think not, indeed!” exclaimed old Lauderdale, shaking his great head and beating a tattoo on the table with his heavy fingers. “I don’t know why not, I’m sure,” Katharine answered, with rising energy. “There’s no reason in the world why we shouldn’t love each other, and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference to me if there were. I should love him just the same, and he would love me. He went to my father last year, as you know, and papa treated him outrageously--wanted to forbid him to come to the house, but of course that was absurd. Jack behaved splendidly through it all--even papa had to acknowledge that, though he didn’t wish to in the least. And I hoped and hoped, and waited and waited, but things went no better. You know when papa makes up his mind to a thing, no matter how unreasonable it is, one might just as well talk to a stone wall. But I hadn’t the smallest intention of being made miserable for the rest of my life, so I persuaded Jack to marry me--” “I suppose he didn’t need much persuasion,” observed the old gentleman, angrily. “You’re quite wrong, uncle Robert! He didn’t want to do it at all. He had an idea that it wasn’t all right--” “Then why in the world did he do it? Oh, I hate that sort of young fellow, who pretends that he doesn’t want to do a thing because he means to do it all the time--and knows perfectly well that it’s a low thing to do!” “I won’t let you say that of Jack!” Katharine’s grey eyes began to flash. “If you knew how hard it was to persuade him! He only consented at last--and so did the clergyman--because I promised to come and tell you at once--” “That’s just like the young good-for-nothing, too!” muttered the old man. “Besides--how do I know that you’re really married? How do I know that you’re not--” “Stop, please! There’s the certificate. Please persuade yourself, before you accuse me of telling falsehoods.” Katharine was suddenly very angry, and Robert Lauderdale realized that he had gone too far in his excitement. But he looked at the certificate carefully, then took out his note-book and wrote down the main facts with great care.