He insisted on knowing what his attitude was towards his daughter.

If they were engaged to be married he said there should be a public announcement of the fact.

It was unfair to him and a slight to his daughter to let matters hang fire in this unsatisfactory way and he hinted that both himself and his daughter might demand their passports from the Ryder mansion unless some explanation were forthcoming.
Ryder was in a quandary.

He had no wish to quarrel with his useful Washington ally; he recognized the reasonableness of his complaint.

Yet what could he do?
Much as he himself desired the marriage, his son was obstinate and showed little inclination to settle down.