The father impatiently interrupted his son, and with pomposity replied; “Young man, have I not eyes to see, ears to hear, and understanding to discern? I speak of what I know. My objection against this young woman is not from hearsay. I offered her an asylum in this house, an asylum of comfort and of respectability. She was graceless enough to refuse it. She preferred to throw herself upon the patronage of the Countess of Smatterton, and to adopt the profession of a public singer, a proceeding against which her most worthy uncle the late Dr Greendale so seriously and repeatedly cautioned her. That was not well done. It was not reputable; it was not treating that good man’s memory with proper respect. It was explicitly renouncing all connexion with my family; for she could not imagine that, after such conduct, any of us should be weak enough to take notice of her again.” “But, my dear father,” mildly interrupted Robert Darnley, “as our correspondence was intercepted, might not Miss Primrose imagine that I had ceased to regard her with affection, and might she not suppose that the intention of renouncing was on my part, and how then could she with any propriety accept of the asylum which you were kind enough to offer her? Indeed, sir, I am well acquainted with all the circumstances, and I am sure that if you would make enquiries, you would find that Miss Primrose has uniformly and invariably behaved with the utmost propriety.” The young man was young indeed, to imagine that such logic as this could have any influence on his father’s mind, or lead to the slightest change in his feelings and views. This gentleness of expostulation had a tendency rather to render the rector’s prejudice more inveterate; and this the young gentleman perceived when he heard his father reply: “I beg, child, that you would not talk so ridiculously. Do you think I am weak enough to be imposed upon as you have been, and to be persuaded out of my senses? I tell you plainly and positively that I will never give my consent or approbation to your marriage with Miss Primrose; but you may do as you please, you are of age.” The young man at this speech felt that logic was superfluous, and that no evidence could convince a wilfully-closed eye. Therefore seeing that nothing was left him but the most positive and decided obstinacy, he as conclusively replied: “Then, sir, I am very sorry that I must express my determination under such unpleasant circumstances; but, since you will not be persuaded, I must say that it is my fixed determination to marry Miss Primrose very shortly; the day is not absolutely fixed, but it will not be at any great distance of time.”