I know that I have chosen well and rightly.' 'I won't be so old-fashioned,' remarked Mr.Athel, still with subdued sarcasm, 'as to hint that some thought of me might have entered into your choosing' (did he consciously repeat his own father's words of five-and-twenty years back, or was it but destiny making him play his part in the human comedy ?) 'and, in point of fact' (perhaps the parallel touched him at this point), 'you are old enough to judge the affair on its own merits.

My wonder is that your judgment has not been sounder.
Has it occurred to you that a young lady in Miss Hood's position would find it at all events somewhat difficult to be unbiassed in her assent to what you proposed ?' 'Nothing has occurred to me,' replied Wilfrid, more shortly than hitherto, 'which could cast a shadow of suspicion on her perfect truth.
I beg that you will not suggest these things.

Some day you will judge her with better knowledge.' 'I am not sure of that,' was the rejoinder, almost irritably uttered.
'What do you mean by that, father ?' Wilfrid asked in a lower tone.
'I mean, Wilf, that I am not yet in the frame of mind to regard the children's governess as my daughter-in-law.

Miss Hood may be all you say; I would not willingly be anything but scrupulously just.

The fact remains that this is not the alliance which it became you to make.