That he must be obeyed she still recognised as the strongest rule of all--obeyed, that is, till she should go to him and lay down her love at his feet, and give back to him the troth which he had given her.
"Father," she said to the old man about noon that day, "I suppose this house does belong to the Trendellsohns ?" "Of course it does," said he, crossly.
"Belongs to them altogether, I mean ?" she said.
"I don't know what you call altogether.

It does belong to them, and there's an end of it.

What's the good of talking about it ?" "Only if so, they ought to have those deeds they are so anxious about.
Everybody ought to have what is his own.

Don't you think so, father ?" "I am keeping nothing from them," said he; "you don't suppose that I want to rob them ?" "Of course you do not." Then Nina paused again.

She was drawing perilously near to forbidden ground, if she were not standing on it already; and yet she was very anxious that the subject should not be dropped between her and her father.
"I'm sure you do not want to rob anyone, father.