No. It is not unfair to the other party. The other party has a mind
and is quite capable of making it up. She will not marry me unless
she jolly well wants to. Far more than most people, I think, she has
the gift of decision. Neither is it as if what I have to offer her
were not bona fide. Take me on my merits and I'm not a bad chap. My
life may have been tame but it has been clean. (Only don't tell Aunt
Caroline). I have a sufficiency of money. What I promise, I shall
perform. And as for ancestors--Well, I refer everyone to Aunt
Caroline for ancestors. If Miss Desire marries me she will receive
all that is in the bond and any little frills which I may be able to
slip in. (There will not be many frills, though, for my lady is
proud.)
Yes. Aunt Caroline will make a fuss. I trust you will bear up under
it for my sake. I think it will be well for her to learn of my
marriage sufficiently long before our return to insure resignation,
at least, upon our arrival. After the storm the calm, and although,
with my dear Aunt, the calm is almost the more devastating, I trust
you will acquit yourself with fortitude.
And now we come to the only valid objection, which you have, strong-
mindedly, left until the last--my prospective father-in-law! He is a
very objectionable old party, and I do not mind your saying so. But
one simply can't have everything. And Bainbridge is a long way from
Vancouver. Also, as a husband I can take precedence, and, by George,
I'll do it! So you see your objection is really an extra inducement.
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