"Yes, Allan," replied Marie in her quiet fashion, "I have affianced
myself--to you and no other man."

"You hear, mynheer," I said to Marais.

Then he broke out in his usual excitable manner. He stormed, he argued,
he rated us both. He said that he would never allow it; that first he
would see his daughter in her grave. That I had abused his confidence
and violated his hospitality; that he would shoot me if I came near his
girl. That she was a minor, and according to the law he could dispose
of her in marriage. That she must accompany him whither he was going;
that certainly I should not do so, and much more of the same sort.

When at last he had tired himself out and smashed his favourite pipe
upon the table, Marie spoke, saying:

"My father, you know that I love you dearly, for since my mother's death
we have been everything to each other, have we not?"

"Surely, Marie, you are my life, and more than my life."

"Very well, my father. That being so, I acknowledge your authority over
me, whatever the law may say. I acknowledge that you have the right to
forbid me to marry Allan, and if you do forbid me--while I am under age,
at any rate--I shall not marry him because of my duty to you.
But"--here she rose and looked him full in the eyes, and oh! how stately
she seemed at that moment in her simple strength and youthful
grace!--"there is one thing, my father, that I do not acknowledge--your
right to force me to marry any other man. As a woman with power over