Then he said, slowly, "Am I to understand that I may now speak of the marriage as a recognized thing ?" "Why not, pray ?" "Of course, since you wish it, and it cannot be helped--" The clergyman again looked at his father, still more dubiously.

He saw in his eye that there would be a quarrel if the interview lasted much longer.

So he said "I must go home now.

I have to write my sermon for next Sunday." "Very good.

Do not let me detain you.