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view his daughter is imprudently in love。 Why should we always
regard such a sufferer as a comic figure？ He is； if we think of it
rightly； a most serious； even tragical figure； and at all events a
most respectable figure。 He loves her； and his heart is torn
between the wish to indulge her and the wish to do what will be
finally best for her。 Why should our sympathies； in such a case； be
all for the foolish young lovers？ They ought in great measure to be
for the father； too。 Something like a sense of this smote me； and I
was ashamed in my pleasure。
〃Then I should say； Mr。 March； that this seems a most undesirable
engagement for my daughter。 What should you say？ I ask you to make
the case your own。〃
〃Excuse me；〃 I answered； 〃I would much rather not make the case my
own； Mr。 Gage； and I must decline to have you consult me。 I think
that in this matter I have done all that I was called upon to do。 I
have told you what I know of Mr。 Kendricks's circumstances and
connections。 As to his character； I can truly say that he is one of
the best men I ever knew。 I believe in his absolute purity of
heart； and he is the most unselfish； the most generous〃
Mr。 Gage waved the facts aside with his hand。 〃I don't undervalue
those things。 If I could be master； no one should have my girl
without them。 But they do not constitute a livelihood。 From what
you tell me of Mr。 Kendricks's prospects； I am not prepared to say
that I think the outlook is brilliant。 If he has counted upon my
supplying a deficiency〃
〃Oh； excuse me； Mr。 Gage！ Your insinuation〃
〃Excuse ME！〃 he retorted。 〃I am making no insinuation。 I merely
wish to say that； while my means are such as to enable me to live in
comfort at De Witt Point； I am well aware that much more would be
needed in New York to enable my daughter to live in the same
comfort。 I'm not willing she should live in less。 I think it is my
duty to say that I am not at all a rich man； and if there has been
any supposition that I am so； it is a mistake that cannot be
corrected too soon。〃
This time I could not resent his insinuation； for since he had begun
to speak I had become guiltily aware of having felt a sort of ease
in regard to Kendricks's modesty of competence from a belief； given
me； I suspect； by the talk of Deering； that Mr。 Gage had plenty of
money； and could come to the rescue in any amount needed。 I could
only say； 〃Mr。 Gage； all this is so far beyond my control that I
ought not to allow you to say it to me。 It is something that you
must say to Mr。 Kendricks。〃
As I spoke I saw the young fellow come round the corner of the
street； and mount the hotel steps。 He did not see me； for he did
not look toward the little corner of lawn where Mr。 Gage and I had
put our chairs for the sake of the morning shade； and for the
seclusion that the spot afforded us。 It was at the angle of the
house farthest from our peculiar corner of the piazza； whither I had
the belief that the girl had withdrawn when she left me to her
father。 I was sure that Kendricks would seek her there； far enough
beyond eyeshot or earshot of us； and I had no doubt that she was
expecting him。
〃You are Mr。 Kendricks's friend〃
〃I have tried much more to be Miss Gage's friend； and Mrs。 March〃
It came into my mind that she was most selfishly and shamelessly
keeping out of the way； and I could not go on and celebrate her
magnanimous impartiality； her eager and sleepless vigilance。
〃I have no doubt of that；〃 said the little man； 〃and I am very much
obliged to you for all the trouble you have taken on my daughter's
account。 But you are his friend； and I can speak to you much more
fully and frankly than I could to him。〃
I did not know just what to say to this； and he went on： 〃In point
of fact； I don't think that I shall speak to him at all。〃
〃That is quite your affair； my dear sir；〃 I said dryly。 〃It isn't
to be supposed that you would seek an interview with him。〃
〃And if he seeks an interview with me； I shall decline it。〃 He
looked at me defiantly and yet interrogatively。 I could see that he
was very angry； and yet uncertain。
〃I must say； then； Mr。 Gage； that I don't think you would be right。〃
〃How； not right？〃
〃I should say that in equity he had a full and perfect right to meet
you； and to talk this matter over with you。 He has done you no
wrong whatever in admiring your daughter； and wishing to marry her。
It's for you and her to decide whether you will let him。 But as far
as his wish goes； and his expression of it to her； he is quite
within his rights。 You must see that yourself。〃
〃I consider；〃 he answered； 〃that he has done me a wrong in that very
thing。 A man without means； or any stated occupation； he had no
business to speak to my daughter without speaking to me。 He took
advantage of the circumstances。 What does he think？ Does he
suppose I am MADE of money？ Does he suppose I want to support a
son…in…law？ I can tell you that if I were possessed of unlimited
means； I should not do it。〃 I began to suspect that Deering was
nearer right； after all； in his representations of the man's
financial ability； I fancied something of the anxiety； the tremor of
avarice； in his resentment of poor Kendricks's possible； or rather
impossible； designs upon his pocket。 〃If he had any profession； or
any kind of business； I should feel differently； and I should be
willing to assist him to a reasonable degree； or if he had a
business training； I might take him in with me； but as it is； I
should have a helpless burden on my hands； and I can tell you I am
not going in for that sort of thing。 I shall make short work of it。
I shall decline to meet Mr。 Hendricks； or Kendricks； and I shall ask
you to say as much to him from me。〃
〃And I shall decline to be the bearer of any such message from you；
Mr。 Gage；〃 I answered； and I saw； not without pleasure； the
bewilderment that began to mix with his arrogance。
〃Very well； then； sir；〃 he answered； after a moment； 〃I shall simply
take my daughter away with me； and that will end it。〃
The prim little； grim little man looked at me with his hard eyes；
and set his lips so close that the beard on the lower one stuck out
at me with a sort of additional menace I felt that he was too
capable of doing what he said； and I lost myself in a sense of his
sordidness； a sense which was almost without a trace of compassion。
It seemed as if I were a long time under the spell of this； and the
sight of his repugnant face； but it could really have been merely a
moment； when I heard a stir of drapery on the grass near us； and the
soft； rich voice of Miss Gage saying； 〃Papa！〃
We both started to our feet。 I do not know whether she had heard
what he said or not。 We had spoken low； and in the utmost vehemence
of his speech he did not lift his voice。 In any case； she did not
heed what he said。
〃Papa；〃 she repeated； 〃I want you to come up and see Mrs。 March on
the piazza。 AndMr。 Kendricks is there。〃
I had a wild desire to laugh at what followed； and yet it was not
without its pathos。 〃IIhm！ hm！ Icannot see Mr。 Kendricks
just at present。 Ithe fact is； I do not wa