"Yes, the people of the States manage to worry along some way without any nobility. In fact, they've rather got a prejudice against that sort of thing. You see, the only Highnesses they've had to judge by are the fortune-hunters who come over after our girls. Now I've always believed that it isn't any fairer to judge European nobility by those specimens than it is to judge us Americans by the expatriated idiots one finds here in Europe--it's like judging a bin of apples by the rotten ones." "You are doubtless right," agreed the Prince, who had followed these remarks with an anxiety almost painful. "And I am glad to hear you speak in that way. I infer that you do not object to international marriages." "Not at all, per se. Other things being equal, I see no reason why a Highness shouldn't make as good a husband as a plain American. There's only one reason for marriage, sir--mutual affection. Where that exists, nothing else matters. Where it doesn't exist--well, marriage becomes simply a convenient arrangement for perpetuating a family, or restoring its estates, or accomplishing some less laudable purpose. But there--shut me off--don't let me preach at you!" "No, no," protested the Prince. "All that you say interests me deeply--more deeply than you suspect. In fact, I hope to marry an American girl myself." "Ah," said Mr. Rushford, swallowing with sudden difficulty. "Oh! You mean--" "I mean that I wish to propose to you for the hand of your daughter," explained the Prince, quite simply. Rushford was not a man easily astonished, but there was no denying his amazement at this moment. Despite his playful words to Susie, he had never really suspected the direction in which events were trending; besides, the lightning-flash, even though expected, is always a shock. But the Prince bore his gaze imperturbably. "I do not wonder that you are surprised," he said. "You have known me so short a time. But we Markelds always know our own minds. I have thought the matter over very carefully and I am sure that I am acting wisely. Whether you would act wisely in giving her to me is another question, for though I am a Prince, I am a very small one, though with income sufficient, I trust, to maintain a wife at least comfortably. I shall be glad to send my solicitors to talk it over with you, and explain anything about me which you may care to know--" Mr. Rushford's face had gradually relaxed during this harangue, until it was positively smiling. "My dear sir," he interrupted, "if there's anything about you I want to know, I'll ask _you_. But that is hardly necessary as yet; for you're taking hold of the matter by the wrong end. We of America don't give our daughters away, they choose their own husbands--subject, of course, to their parents' approval. Now, my daughter--by the way, you haven't specified which one you're after." "It is Miss Sue that I want," said the Prince.