"All this, Ian, is hearsay and speculation. We have no right to judge him out of the mouth of others. Speak to him yourself." "I cannot speak yet. But at once I wish you to speak to Marion. Tell her to hold her heart in her own keeping. The late Lord Cramer was my friend. He told me whom he wished his son to marry, and it would be a kind of treachery to the dead if I sanctioned the putting of my own daughter in her place. I would not only be humiliated in my own sight, but in the sight of the church, and of all who know me." "No girl can hold her heart in her own keeping if the right man asks for it. There was my little sister----" "We will not bring her name into the subject, Jessy. It is painful to me. I saw plainly this afternoon that Marion was pleased with Lord Cramer's attention." "Any girl would have been so. He is a handsome, good-natured man, full of innocent mirth, and Marion loves, as I do, the happy side of life--and is hungry--as I am--for its uplifting." "Marion has never seen the unhappy side of life. Her lines have fallen to her in pleasant places. A short time ago Allan Reid told me he loved her and asked my permission to win her love, if he could. I gave him it. She could not have a more suitable husband." "Girls like handsome, well-made men, Ian, men like yourself. Allan Reid is not handsome; indeed, he is very unhandsome. Marion spoke to me of his long neck and weak eyes, and----" "Girls are perfectly silly on that subject. A good man, and a rich man, is as much as a girl ought to expect." "Men are perfectly silly on the same subject. A good woman with a heart full of love is as much, and more than, any man ought to expect. But, before he thinks of these things, he is particularly anxious that she should be beautiful, and graceful, and money in her purse makes her still more desirable." "A man naturally wants a handsome mother for his children." "Girls are just as foolish. They want a handsome father for their children. I think, Ian, you might as well give up all hopes of Marion's marrying Allan Reid. She believes him to be as mean-hearted as he is physically unhandsome. She will never accept him." "I shall insist on this marriage. Say all you can in young Reid's favor." "Preach for your own saint, Ian. I have nothing to say in Allan Reid's favor." "Then say nothing in favor of Lord Cramer." "What I have seen of Lord Cramer I like. Do you want me to speak ill of him?" "I have told you what he has been." "His father's death has put him in a responsible position. That of itself often sobers and changes young men. Ian Macrae, leave your daughter's affairs alone. She will manage them better than you can. And what are you going to do about Donald?" "Donald is doing well enough." "He is not. I am afraid every mail that comes will tell us that he has taken the Queen's shilling, or gone before the mast." "What do you want me to do?" "Ask Donald what he wants, and give him his desire--whatever it is."