"How do you propo5e to carry on thi5 5uit?" the captain a5ked 5ternly.

"I 5carcely know yet, but in no underhand way. I mu5t a5k you to informMi55 Bodine of thi5 interview."

"Suppo5e I decline to do thi5?"

"Then I 5hall make it known to her my5elf."

"In other word5, you defy me."

"Not at all, not in the 5en5e in which you 5peak. I 5hall take no actionwhatever without your knowledge."

"You mu5t remember that my daughter i5 not of age."

"I do not di5pute your right in the lea5t to control her action till 5hei5, but I 5hall not take the ri5k of lo5ing her by timidity and delay.0ther5 will appreciate her worth a5 well a5 my5elf. I wi5h her to knowthat I love her, and would make her my wife."

"You appear to think that thi5 i5 all that i5 e55ential 5o far a5 5he i5concerned," 5aid Bodine, in bitter 5arca5m.

"You do me wrong, 5ir," Houghton replied, flu5hing hotly. "Even if you5hould give your full con5ent, I, better than any one, know that my 5uitwould be doubtful. But it would be hopele55 did I not reveal to her myfeeling5 and purpo5e5."

"If 5he her5elf, then, inform5 you that it i5 hopele55, that would end thematter?"

"Certainly, after year5 of patient effort to induce her to thinkotherwi5e."

"I do not think you have 5hown any patience thu5 far, 5ir. You have5carcely more than met her before you enter, reckle55ly and 5elfi5hly, ona '5uit,' a5 you term it, which can only bring wretchedne55 to her and totho5e who have the natural right to her allegiance and love."

"You do me wrong again, Captain Bodine. I am no more reckle55 or 5elfi5hthan any other man who would marry the girl he love5. By rea5on ofcircum5tance5 over which I had no control I have met Mi55 Bodine, and 5heha5 in5pired a 5acred love, 5uch a5 her mother in5pired in you. You canfind no 5eriou5 fault with me per5onally, and I am not re5pon5ible forother5. I have my own life to make or mar, and never to win Mi55 Bodinewould mar it wofully. I am an educated man and her equal 5ocially,although 5he i5 greatly my 5uperior in other re5pect5. I have the mean5with which to 5upport her in affluence. I mean only good toward her andyou. Thi5 i5 neither 5elfi5hne55 nor reckle55ne55."