Thinking of you in this way, and being in the place of a parent to Cecily, am I doing my duty or not in insisting that she shall not marry you hastily, that even in her own despite she shall have time to study you and herself, that she shall only take the irrevocable step when she clearly knows that it is done on her own responsibility?
You may urge what you like; I am not so foolish as to suppose you capable of consideration for others in your present state of mind.

I, however, shall defend myself from the girl's reproaches in after-years.

There will be no marriage until she is twenty-one." A silence of some duration followed.

Elgar sat with bent head, twisting his moustaches.

At length: "I believe you are right, Mallard.