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people。 They； in fact； were not at all haggard； the worst was over； if
bringing their engagement to his knowledge was the worst； the formality
of asking his consent which Burnamy still had to go through was
unpleasant； but after all it was a formality。 Agatha told him everything
that had passed between herself and her father； and if it had not that
cordiality on his part which they could have wished it was certainly not
hopelessly discouraging。
They agreed at breakfast that Burnamy had better have it over as quickly
as possible； and he waited only till August came down with the general's
tray before going up to his room。 The young fellow did not feel more at
his ease than the elder meant he should in taking the chair to which the
general waved him from where he lay in bed； and there was no talk wasted
upon the weather between them。
〃I suppose I know what you have come for； Mr。 Burnamy；〃 said General
Triscoe in a tone which was rather judicial than otherwise； 〃and I
suppose you know why you have come。〃 The words certainly opened the way
for Burnamy； but he hesitated so long to take it that the general had
abundant time to add； 〃I don't pretend that this event is unexpected； but
I should like to know what reason you have for thinking I should wish you
to marry my daughter。 I take it for granted that you are attached to
each other； and we won't waste time on that point。 Not to beat about the
bush； on the next point； let me ask at once what your means of supporting
her are。 How much did you earn on that newspaper in Chicago？〃
〃Fifteen hundred dollars；〃 Burnamy answered； promptly enough。
〃Did you earn anything more； say within the last year？〃
〃I got three hundred dollars advance copyright for a book I sold to a
publisher。〃 The glory had not yet faded from the fact in Burnamy's mind。
〃Eighteen hundred。 What did you get for your poem in March's book？〃
〃That's a very trifling matter： fifteen dollars。〃
〃And your salary as private secretary to that man Stoller？〃
〃Thirty dollars a week； and my expenses。 But I wouldn't take that；
General Triscoe；〃 said Burnamy。
General Triscoe； from his 'lit de justice'； passed this point in silence。
〃Have you any one dependent on you？〃
〃My mother； I take care of my mother；〃 answered Burnamy； proudly。
〃Since you have broken with Stoller； what are your prospects？〃
〃I have none。〃
〃Then you don't expect to support my daughter； you expect to live upon
her means。〃
〃I expect to do nothing of the kind！ 〃 cried Burnamy。 〃I should be
ashamedI should feel disgracedI shouldI don't ask youI don't ask
her till I have the means to support her〃
〃If you were very fortunate；〃 continued the general； unmoved by the young
fellow's pain； and unperturbed by the fact that he had himself lived upon
his wife's means as long as she lived； and then upon his daughter's； 〃if
you went back to Stoller〃
〃I wouldn't go back to him。 I don't say he's knowingly a rascal； but
he's ignorantly a rascal； and he proposed a rascally thing to me。 I
behaved badly to him； and I'd give anything to undo the wrong I let him
do himself； but I'll never go back to him。〃
〃If you went back； on your old salary；〃 the general persisted pitilessly；
〃you would be very fortunate if you brought your earnings up to twenty…
five hundred a year。〃
〃Yes〃
〃And how far do you think that would go in supporting my daughter on the
scale she is used to？ I don't speak of your mother； who has the first
claim upon you。〃
Burnamy sat dumb； and his head which he had lifted indignantly when the
question was of Stoller； began to sink。
The general went on。 〃You ask me to give you my daughter when you
haven't money enough to keep her in gowns； you ask me to give her to a
stranger〃
〃Not quite a stranger； General Triscoe；〃 Burnamy protested。 〃You have
known me for three months at least； and any one who knows me in Chicago
will tell you〃
〃A stranger； and worse than a stranger；〃 the general continued； so
pleased with the logical perfection of his position that he almost
smiled； and certainly softened toward Burnamy。 〃It isn't a question of
liking you； Mr。 Burnamy； but of knowing you； my daughter likes you； so do
the Marches； so does everybody who has met you。 I like you myself。
You've done me personally a thousand kindnesses。 But I know very little
of you； in spite of our three months' acquaintance； and that little is
But you shall judge for yourself！ You were in the confidential employ of
a man who trusted you； and you let him betray himself。〃
〃I did。 I don't excuse it。 The thought of it burns like fire。 But it
wasn't done maliciously； it wasn't done falsely； it was done
inconsiderately； and when it was done； it seemed irrevocable。 But it
wasn't； I could have prevented； I could have stooped the mischief； and I
didn't！ I can never outlive that。〃
〃I know；〃 said the general relentlessly； 〃that you have never attempted
any defence。 That has been to your credit with me。 It inclined me to
overlook your unwarranted course in writing to my daughter； when you told
her you would never see her again。 What did you expect me to think；
after that； of your coming back to see her？ Or didn't you expect me to
know it？〃
〃I expected you to know it； I knew she would tell you。 But I don't
excuse that； either。 It was acting a lie to come back。 All I can say is
that I had to see her again for one last time。〃
〃And to make sure that it was to be the last time； you offered yourself
to her。〃
〃I couldn't help doing that。〃
〃I don't say you could。 I don't judge the facts at all。 I leave them
altogether to you； and you shall say what a man in my position ought to
say to such a man as you have shown yourself。〃
〃No； I will say。〃 The door into the adjoining room was flung open； and
Agatha flashed in from it。
Her father looked coldly at her impassioned face。 〃Have you been
listening？〃 he asked。
〃I have been hearing〃
〃Oh！〃 As nearly as a man could； in bed； General Triscoe shrugged。
〃I suppose I had； a right to be in my own room。 I couldn't help hearing；
and I was perfectly astonished at you； papa； the cruel way you went on；
after all you've said about Mr。 Stoller； and his getting no more than he
deserved。〃
〃That doesn't justify me；〃 Burnamy began； but she cut him short almost as
severely as shehad dealt with her father。
〃Yes； it does！ It justifies you perfectly！ And his wanting you to
falsify the whole thing afterwards； more than justifies you。〃
Neither of the men attempted anything in reply to her casuistry； they
both looked equally posed by it； for different reasons； and Agatha went
on as vehemently as before； addressing herself now to one and now to the
other。
〃And besides； if it didn't justify you； what you have done yourself
would； and your never denying it； or trying to excuse it； makes it the
same as if you hadn't done it； as far as you are concerned； and that is
all I care for。〃 Burnamy started； as if with the sense of having heard
something like this before； and with surprise at hearing it now； and she
flushed a little as she added tremulously； 〃And I should never； never
blame you for i