"And quite enough, too," I answered, though in my heart I liked the
girl's spirit, and guessed that she was playing a part to prevent her
father from sending away Ralph against his will.

"All this is pretty hearing," said Jan, staring from one to the other.
"Why, now that I think of it, I never heard that you two were more than
brother and sister to each other. Say, you shameless girl, when did all
this come about, and why do you dare to promise yourself in marriage
without my consent?"

"Because there was no time to ask it, father," said Suzanne, looking
down, "for Ralph and I only spoke together this morning."

"He spoke to you this morning, and now it seems that you are ready to
forsake your father and your mother and to follow him across the world,
you wicked and ungrateful child."

"I am not wicked and I am not ungrateful," answered Suzanne; "it is you
who are wicked, who want to send Ralph away and break all our hearts."

"It is false, miss," shouted her father in answer, "for you know well
that I do not want to send him away."

"Then why did you tell him that he must go and take your roan horse and
new hat?"

"For his own good, girl."

"Is it for his own good that he should go away from all of us who love