Alan made one more effort. In a very earnest voice, he began to

expound to his father Herminia's point of view. Dr. Merrick

listened for a second or two in calm impatience. Then he consulted

his watch. "Excuse me," he said. "I have just three minutes. Let

us get at once to the practical part--the therapeutics of the case,

omitting its aetiology: You're going to take the young lady to

Italy. When she gets there, will she marry you? And do you expect

me to help in providing for you both after this insane adventure?"

Alan's face was red as fire. "She will NOT marry me when she gets

to Italy," he answered decisively. "And I don't want you to do

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anything to provide for either of us."

The father looked at him with the face he was wont to assume in

scanning the appearance of a confirmed monomaniac. "She will not

marry you," he answered slowly; "and you intend to go on living

with her in open concubinage! A lady of birth and position! Is

that your meaning?"

"Father," Alan cried despairingly, "Herminia would not consent to

live with me on any other terms. To her it would be disgraceful,

shameful, a sin, a reproach, a dereliction of principle. She

COULDN'T go back upon her whole past life. She lives for nothing

else but the emancipation of women."

"And you will aid and abet her in her folly?" the father asked,

looking up sharply at him. "You will persist in this evil course?

You will face the world and openly defy morality?"

"I will not counsel the woman I most love and admire to purchase

her own ease by proving false to her convictions," Alan answered

stoutly.

Dr. Merrick gazed at the watch on his table once more. Then he

rose and rang the bell. "Patient here?" he asked curtly. "Show

him in then at once. And, Napper, if Mr. Alan Merrick ever calls

again, will you tell him I'm out?--and your mistress as well, and

all the young ladies." He turned coldly to Alan. "I must guard

your mother and sisters at least," he said in a chilly voice, "from

the contamination of this woman's opinions."

Alan bowed without a word, and left the room. He never again saw

the face of his father.




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