"I regret to inform you that it may not be necessary," said Sir Appleton. "When I told our young friend to prepare for execution, he asked naturally enough why he was being executed and quite convinced me that it would be absurd to carry out the sentence when his one burning desire and ambition was to marry Miss Phenton." Sheer, unabashed intimidation! I looked at Will; but he was sitting with his head between his hands, utterly worn out with the worry of the past few weeks. "Is this true?," I asked. "He will tell you," said Sir Appleton, taking care to give him no chance of speaking for himself, "that he always intended to marry her; he now clearly remembers promising to marry her, which is so satisfactory. It was only a question of times and seasons and ways and means. I admit it is not a solution which I consider ideal, because I--like you, though from another standpoint--do not regard it as a wholly suitable match. A first love, however, is not an easy thing to overcome, and Miss Phenton is unaffectedly devoted to your son despite the period of anxiety through which he unavoidably compelled her to pass; your son will tell you that he is no less devoted to her." If only the man would have stopped talking for one moment! He sat there, smiling to himself and pouring out this stream of pretentious, shop-walker's English... I'm sure you know what I mean! One so often finds with people who are not quite certain of themselves that they heap up affectations and dare not venture on a colloquialism for fear of seeming what they would call "ungenteel". _Slang_ I abhor, but there _is_ such a thing as the daily speech of educated men and women... "Tell me, dear Will," I begged, "whether this is true." "I've always wanted to marry Molly," he answered. And, though sheer fatigue had taken the tone from his voice, I heard a throb of conviction. "I didn't see, though, how we could marry until we had something to marry on. That's what I told her fool of a father ... and her ... and the guv'nor ... and Sir Appleton. If you'd settle that between you instead of badgering me, I'll marry her to-morrow." His nerves were strained to breaking-point... And I am not ashamed to confess that I felt hardly adequate to discussing the most momentous decision in my boy's life. After inviting me to dinner, Sir Appleton seemed to have forgotten all about it. Nine o'clock had struck; and I was faint and _sick_ with hunger. I have reached an age when I like regular meals at regular hours. These business men must have iron constitutions; or else they must eat very hearty luncheons. And I kept saying to myself: "For _truly_ unbusinesslike irregularity, go to your business man." ... One thing stood out clearly. As I have always refused to _lead_ Will where his affections were concerned, so I could never stand in the way when once his heart had spoken.