Part 3 (2/2)
”You know Richard's way; Richard left him no other choice. Papa had to promise before he was allowed to go to bed.”
”To let Turlington marry you?”
”Yes; the week after my next birthday.”
”The week after next Christmas-day?”
”Yes. Papa is to speak to me as soon as we are at home again, and my married life is to begin with the New Year.”
”Are you in earnest, Natalie? Do you really mean to say it has gone as far as that?”
”They have settled everything. The splendid establishment we are to set up, the great income we are to have. I heard papa tell Richard that half his fortune should go to me on my wedding-day. It was sickening to hear how much they made of Money, and how little they thought of Love. What am I to do, Launce?”
”That's easily answered, my darling. In the first place, you are to make up your mind not to marry Richard Turlington--”
”Do talk reasonably. You know I have done all I could. I have told papa that I can think of Richard as a friend, but not as a husband. He only laughs at me, and says, 'Wait a little, and you will alter your opinion, my dear.' You see Richard is everything to him; Richard has always managed his affairs, and has saved him from losing by bad speculations; Richard has known me from the time when I was a child; Richard has a splendid business, and quant.i.ties of money. Papa can't even imagine that I can resist Richard. I have tried my aunt; I have told her he is too old for me. All she says is, 'Look at your father; he was much older than your mother, and what a happy marriage theirs was.' Even if I said in so many words, 'I won't marry Richard,' what good would it do to us?
Papa is the best and dearest old man in the world; but oh, he is so fond of money! He believes in nothing else. He would be furious--yes, kind as he is, he would be furious--if I even hinted that I was fond of _you_.
Any man who proposed to marry me--if he couldn't match the fortune that I should bring him by a fortune of his own--would be a lunatic in papa's eyes. He wouldn't think it necessary to answer him; he would ring the bell, and have him shown out of the house. I am exaggerating nothing, Launce; you know I am speaking the truth. There is no hope in the future--that I can see--for either of us.
”Have you done, Natalie? I have something to say on my side if you have.”
”What is it?”
”If things go on as they are going on now, shall I tell you how it will end? It will end in your being Turlington's wife.”
”Never!”
”So you say now; but you don't know what may happen between this and Christmas-day. Natalie, there is only one way of making sure that you will never marry Richard. Marry _me_.”
”Without papa's consent?”
”Without saying a word to anybody till it's done.”
”Oh, Launce! Launce!”
”My darling, every word you have said proves there is no other way.
Think of it, Natalie, think of it.”
There was a pause. Natalie dropped her needle and thread, and hid her face in her hands. ”If my poor mother was only alive,” she said; ”if I only had an elder sister to advise me, and to take my part.”
She was evidently hesitating. Launce took a man's advantage of her indecision. He pressed her without mercy.
”Do you love me?” he whispered, with his lips close to her ear.
”You know I do, dearly.”
”Put it out of Richard's power to part us, Natalie.”
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