"Oh, papa, do not speak to me like that! Of course I know what you mean. There is no real reason for your going. If you wish it I will promise you that I will not see him." He only shook his head,--meaning to imply that a promise which could go no farther than that would not make him happy. "It will be just the same, papa,--either here, or at Wharton, or elsewhere. You need not be afraid of me." "I am not afraid of you;--but I am afraid for you. I fear for your happiness,--and for my own." "So do I, papa. But what can be done? I suppose sometimes people must be unhappy. I can't change myself, and I can't change you. I find myself to be as much bound to Mr. Lopez as though I were his wife." "No, no! you shouldn't say so. You've no right to say so." "But I have given you a promise, and I certainly will keep it. If we must be unhappy, still we need not,--need not quarrel; need we, papa?" Then she came up to him and kissed him,--whereupon he went out of the room wiping his eyes. That evening he again spoke to her, saying merely a word. "I think, my dear, we'll have it fixed that we go on the 30th. Sir Alured seemed to wish it." "Very well, papa;--I shall be quite ready." CHAPTER XIV A Lover's Perseverance Ferdinand Lopez learned immediately through Mrs. Roby that the early departure for Herefordshire had been fixed. "I should go to him and speak to him very plainly," said Mrs. Roby. "He can't bite you." "I'm not in the least afraid of his biting me." "You can talk so well! I should tell him everything, especially about money,--which I'm sure is all right." "Yes,--that is all right," said Lopez, smiling. "And about your people." "Which I've no doubt you think is all wrong." "I don't know anything about it," said Mrs. Roby, "and I don't much care. He has old-world notions. At any rate you should say something, so that he should not be able to complain to her that you had kept him in the dark. If there is anything to be known, it's much better to have it known." "But there is nothing to be known." "Then tell him nothing;--but still tell it to him. After that you must trust to her. I don't suppose she'd go off with you." "I'm sure she wouldn't." "But she's as obstinate as a mule. She'll get the better of him if you really mean it." He assured her that he really did mean it, and determined that he would take her advice as to seeing, or endeavouring to see, Mr. Wharton once again. But before doing so he thought it to be expedient to put his house into order, so that he might be able to make a statement of his affairs if asked to do so. Whether they were flourishing or the reverse, it might be necessary that he should have to speak of them,--with, at any rate, apparent candour.