"My words are as I have said them. They are sufficiently explicit. You
need not misunderstand them. What, I ask, are your pretensions to the
hand of my daughter, and how is it that you have so far forgotten
yourself as thus to abuse my confidence, stealing into the affections of
my child?"

"Uncle, I have abused no confidence, and will not submit to any charge
that would dishonor me. What I have done has been done openly, before
all eyes, and without resort to cunning or contrivance. I must do myself
the justice to believe that you knew all this without the necessity of
my speech, and even while your lips spoke the contrary."

"You are bold, Ralph, and seem to have forgotten that you are yet but a
mere boy. You forget your years and mine."

"No, sir--pardon me when I so speak--but it is you who have forgotten
them. Was it well to speak as you have spoken?" proudly replied the
youth.

"Ralph, you have forgotten much, or have yet to be taught many things.
You may not have violated confidence, but--"

"I _have not_ violated confidence!" was the abrupt and somewhat
impetuous response, "and will not have it spoken of in that manner. It
is not true that I have abused any trust, and the assertion which I make
shall not therefore be understood as a mere possibility."

The uncle was something astounded by the almost fierce manner of his
nephew; but the only other effect of this expression was simply, while