"I see that the intended marriage of your son has made very little
impression upon you."

Aghast for the moment, this was such a different topic from the
one he expected, the judge regarded her in silence before
remarking:

"I have known nothing of it. My son's concerns are no longer mine.
If you have broken into my course of life for no other purpose
than to discuss the affairs of Oliver Ostrander, I must beg you to
excuse me. I have nothing to say in his connection to you or to
any one."

"Is the breach between you so deep as that!"

This she said in a low tone and more as if to herself than to him.
Then, with a renewal of courage indicated by the steadying of her
form and a spirited uplift of her head, she observed with a touch
of command in her voice:

"There are some things which must be discussed whatever our wishes
or preconceived resolves. The separation between you and Mr.
Oliver Ostrander cannot be so absolute (since whatever your cause
of complaint you are still his father and he your son) that you
will allow his whole life's happiness to be destroyed for the lack
of a few words between yourself and me."

He had made his bow, and he now proceeded to depart, severity in
his face and an implacable resolution in his eye. But some impulse