For when she had done speaking she fell down on her knees before her father, covered her face, and said, 'Please, please forgive me, papa! How could I do it without letting you know! I don't know, I don't know!' When she looked up she found that, in the turmoil of his mind, her father was moving about the room.

'You are within an ace of ruining yourself, ruining me, ruining us all!' he said.

'You are nearly as bad as your brother, begad!' 'Perhaps I am--yes--perhaps I am!' 'That I should father such a harum-scarum brood!' 'It is very bad; but Nicholas--' 'He's a scoundrel!' 'He is not a scoundrel!' cried she, turning quickly.

'He's as good and worthy as you or I, or anybody bearing our name, or any nobleman in the kingdom, if you come to that! Only--only'-- she could not continue the argument on those lines.

'Now, father, listen!' she sobbed; 'if you taunt me I'll go off and join him at his farm this very day, and marry him to-morrow, that's what I'll do!' 'I don't taant ye!' 'I wish to avoid unseemliness as much as you.' She went away.