“Sir, I can wait. I only wish your sanction to our engagement. I can wait three or four years, if necessary, or any length of time at all, if I may hope to get her at last!” “She is too _young_, I tell you, Frank! Too young to know her own mind. Only fifteen. Ridiculous!” “But, sir, I have heard of gentlemen older and more settled than myself who have actually _married_ girls of fifteen. _I_ only ask an engagement!” “You mean _me_, you dog! I know you do! I see you do! But, Frank, seriously and solemnly, I wouldn’t do so again! And for the very reason that _I_ committed that egregious folly, that bitter wrong against a young girl, I will not suffer any one else to do the same wrong to my child, if I can help it!” “No, Mr. Clifton—pardon me, but are _you_ not about to commit a more grievous wrong to your own lovely, gentle child? Have you not? Pardon me! Pardon me! But _have_ you not promised her hand where she cannot give her heart?” “No! Heaven forbid! I promised her to Charley Cabell. She used to like him very well. I did the best I could for her happiness. I have secured it—unless—unless—oh, my God, Frank!” suddenly exclaimed the old man, in his turn extremely agitated, and wiping the perspiration from his brow, “I _hope_—I _trust in God_ you haven’t entrapped her affections! Frank! Frank! She _is_ engaged to Major Cabell! I didn’t tell you so when you first asked me for her, because—because—for many reasons—” (wiping the streaming perspiration from his brow) “it is—it is—disagreeable to remember and to talk about it! But—but—she _is_ engaged to Major Cabell, and—and for many reasons—family reasons—it is necessary that the engagement should be fulfilled! Unless—unless—some inevitable, _insurmountable obstacle_ was to arise and prevent it! Frank! Frank! I am in a great strait! a dire, doleful strait! but—but—sooner than make my girl _un_happy, or stand in the way of her perfect happiness, I would—I would—I would _die in a jail_! Where I may die! Where I may die!” Nothing could exceed the force of the emotion that agitated the old man, shaking his huge form, and choking up his utterance. Mr. Fairfax looked at him with mingled astonishment, wonder and compassion. “Boy—boy—you _haven’t_ entrapped my dear child’s heart?” again inquired the old gentleman, trembling with excess of feeling. “_Entrapped_ is not exactly the word, sir,” said Frank, proudly and mournfully. “I learned to love her, and I won her love without designing to do either!” “Lost! Lost!” cried Mr. Clifton, dropping his head upon his bosom. He walked on in silence so desponding, that Fairfax could not bring himself to intrude upon it. They went on until they suddenly met _Major Cabell himself_ coming down the hill, apparently from Hardbargain.