"Well, I'm sorry if I was rude. I have no objection to him as a
gentleman or as an acquaintance, if he would not go beyond that; but I
detest his attentions and his love-making, and he will not stop even
when he sees that it annoys me."
"No one has a better right to pay his attentions to you, for he has
asked and received my permission to do so."
Kate drew herself upright and gazed at her father with eyes full of
horror.
"You gave him permission to pay attention to me!" she exclaimed, slowly,
as though scarcely comprehending his meaning; then, springing to her
feet and drawing herself to her full height, she demanded,-"Do you mean, papa, that you intend me to marry him?"
For an instant Mr. Underwood felt ill at ease; Kate's face was white and
her eyes had the look of a creature brought to bay, that sees no escape
from the death confronting it, for even in that brief time Kate, knowing
her father's indomitable will, realized with a sense of despair the
hopelessness of her situation.
"I suppose your marriage will be the outcome,--at least, I hope so,"
her father replied, quickly recovering his composure, "for I certainly
know of no one to whom I would so willingly intrust your future
happiness. Listen to me, Kate: have I not always planned and worked for
your best interests?"
"You always have, papa."
"Have I not always chosen what was for your good and for your
happiness?"
Kate gave a silent assent.
"Very well; then I think you can trust to my judgment in this case."
"But, papa," she protested, "this is different. I never can love that
man; I abhor him--loathe him! Do you think there can be any happiness or
good in a marriage without love? Would you and mamma have been happy
together if you had not loved each other?"
No sooner had she spoken the words than she regretted them as she noted
the look of pain that crossed her father's face. In his silent,
undemonstrative way he had idolized his wife, and it was seldom that he
would allow any allusion to her in his presence.
"I don't know why you should call up the past," he said, after a pause,
"but since you have I will tell you that your mother when a girl like
yourself objected to our marriage; she thought that we were unsuited to
each other and that we could never live happily together. She listened,
however, to the advice of those older and wiser than she, and you know
the result." The strong man's voice trembled slightly. "I think our
married life was a happy one. It was for me, I know; I hope it was for
her."