"Please, father;" said Marjorie, with unusual daring and in her mother's voice. "Mr. Trafford, after what I've told you--you must leave that to me." "She _is_ engaged to Mr. Magnet," said Mr. Pope. "Tell him outright, Marjorie. Make it clear." "I think I understand," said Trafford, with his eyes on Marjorie. "I've not seen Mr. Magnet since last night," said Marjorie. "And so--naturally--I'm still engaged to him." "Precisely!" said Mr. Pope, and turned with a face of harsh interrogation to his importunate caller. Mr. Trafford seemed disposed for further questions. "I don't think we need detain you, Madge," said Mr. Pope, over his shoulder. The two young people stood facing one another for a moment, and I am afraid that they were both extremely happy and satisfied with each other. It was all right, they were quite sure--all right. Their lips were almost smiling. Then Marjorie made an entirely dignified exit. She closed the door very softly, and Mr. Pope turned to his visitor again with a bleak politeness. "I hope that satisfies you," he said. "There is nothing more to be said at present, I admit," said Mr. Trafford. "Nothing," said Mr. Pope. Both gentlemen bowed. Mr. Pope rose ceremoniously, and Mr. Trafford walked doorward. He had a sense of latent absurdities in these tremendous attitudes. They passed through the hall--processionally. But just at the end some lower strain in Mr. Trafford's nature touched the fine dignity of the occasion with an inappropriate remark. "Good-bye, sir," said Mr. Pope, holding the housedoor wide. "Good-bye, sir," said Mr. Trafford, and then added with a note of untimely intimacy in his voice, with an inexcusable levity upon his lips: "You know--there's nobody--no man in the world--I'd sooner have for a father-in-law than you." Mr. Pope, caught unprepared on the spur of the moment, bowed in a cold and distant manner, and then almost immediately closed the door to save himself from violence.... From first to last neither gentleman had made the slightest allusion to a considerable bruise upon Mr. Trafford's left cheek, and a large abrasion above his ear. § 9