him and be lost across the sea?" and choking she burst into tears, while
her father muttered:

"Why, the girl has become like a tiger, she who was milder than a
sheep!"

"Hush, Suzanne," broke in Ralph, "and you who have been father and
mother to me, listen I pray you. It is true that Suzanne and I love each
other very dearly, as we have always loved each other, though how much
we did not know till this morning. Now, I am a waif and a castaway whom
you have nurtured, and have neither lands nor goods of my own, therefore
you may well think that I am no match for your daughter, who is so
beautiful, and who, if she outlives you, will inherit all that you have.
If you decide thus it is just, however hard it may be. But you tell me,
though I have heard nothing of it till now, and I think that it may be
but idle talk, that I have both lands and goods far away in England,
and you bid me begone to them. Well, if you turn me out I must go, for
I cannot stay alone in the veldt without a house, or a friend, or a
hoof of cattle. But then I tell you that when Suzanne is of age I shall
return and marry her, and take her away with me, as I have a right to
do if she desires it, for I will not lose everything that I love in
the world at one stroke. Indeed nothing but death shall part me from
Suzanne. Therefore, it comes to this: either you must let me stay here
and, poor as I am, be married to Suzanne when it shall please you, or,
if you dismiss me, you must be ready to see me come back and take away
Suzanne."

"Suzanne, Suzanne," I interrupted angrily, for I grew jealous of the
girl; "have you no thought or word, Ralph, for any save Suzanne?"