His daughter, little as she knew of the world, could see farther than he, and she understood only too well the reason why they lived so very much alone. The consciousness of her father’s faults and weaknesses did not diminish one whit the devotion and loyalty of her faithful heart; rather, she clung to him the more for the failings, which left him so dependent upon her for love, care, and companionship; but at the same time, she could the better appreciate consideration and kindness in others for knowing how much patience was needed in intercourse with her father; and Tor could not but rise in her favour when she saw how regular his visits became, and what great pleasure they always gave. Had Meredith been wise enough to say nothing to her of a wild and foolish plan which had long been working in his brain, the girl would doubtless have learned to like Tor very much—she might even have loved him; for the cold, proud manner belied the warmth of the feelings below. But the blind man never could conceal anything from his daughter, and he loved the sensation of power which he experienced, whilst calmly mapping out her future, as sure of the fulfilment of his dreams as if he really possessed a prophetic power. He talked himself into absolute confidence, and became actually confused between the real and the imaginary. So Roma had been told years ago that it was her fate to marry Philip Debenham, the son of Meredith’s first friend and patron; and she had never resisted this verdict, because it seemed useless to dispute the matter, when the future husband was far away in foreign lands, and might never appear upon the scene at all. And when he did come back suddenly, a rich and prosperous man, when her fortune would no longer be needed to restore the prosperity of his house, and when he most likely would be expected to choose a wife from the rich and noble in the land, then Roma did indulge some faint hope that her father would abandon the curious plan he had made. She might have known him better. Money was dross in his eyes. Had Philip come home a beggar instead of a prince, he would have bestowed his daughter’s hand upon him with equal readiness. No change of fortune could uproot an idea which had grown, as it were, into the very depths of his nature. Roma had not crossed him at the early stage of affairs, and now she dared not breathe a word of opposition.