She trembled a little as she nestled against him. "And--and--your

father, Sir Stephen Orme?" she said. "What will he say?"

Stafford laughed slowly and confidently.

"Oh, my father? He will be delighted. He's the best of fathers, a

perfect model for parents. Ever since I can remember he has been good

to me, a precious sight better, more liberal and generous, than I

deserved; but lately, since I've known him--Ah, well, I can only say,

dearest, that he will be delighted to hear that I have chosen a wife;

and when he sees you--"

He stopped and held her at arm's length for a moment and looked down

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into the lovely face upturned to his with its sweet, girlish gravity.

--"Why, he will fall in love with you right out of hand! I think you

will like my father, Ida. He--well, he's a taking sort of fellow;

everybody likes him who knows him--really knows him--and speaks well of

him. Yes, I'm proud of him, and I feel as safe as if he were here to

say, in his hearty, earnest way: 'I wish you good luck, Stafford! And

may God bless you, my dear!'"

He flushed and laughed as if a little ashamed of his emotional way of

putting it.

"He's full of--of the milk of human kindness, is my father," he said,

with a touch of simplicity which was one of the thousand and fifteen

reasons why Ida loved him.

She gazed up at him thoughtfully and sighed.

"I hope he will like me," she said, all the pride which usually

characterized her melted by her love. "I am sure that I shall like

him--for loving you."

"You will see," said Stafford, confidently. "He will be as proud as a

duke about you. You won't mind if he shows it a little plainly and

makes a little fuss, Ida? He's--well, he's used to making the most of a

good thing when he has it--it's the life he has led which has rather

got him into the way of blowing a trumpet, you know--and he'll want a

whole orchestra to announce you. But about your father, dearest? Shall

I come to-morrow and ask for his consent?"

She looked up at him with doubt and a faint trouble in her beautiful

eyes, and he heard her sigh regretfully.

"I am afraid," she said, in a low voice.

"Afraid?" He looked at her with a smile of surprise. "If anyone were to

tell me that it was possible for you to be afraid, I shouldn't believe

them," he said. "Fear and you haven't made acquaintance yet, Ida!"




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