"
She seemed to become a great deal more cheerful; this matter had
evidently been weighing on her mind.
"Meanwhile," she said, "you promised to tell me all about Natalie and
yourself. Her father does not approve of your marrying. Well, his
reasons?"
"If he has any, he is careful to keep them to himself," he said. "But I
can guess at some of them. No doubt he would rather not have Natalie
marry; it would deprive him of an excellent house-keeper. Then
again--and this is the only reason he does give--he seems to consider it
would be inexpedient as regards the work we are all engaged in--"
"You!" she said, with a sudden start. "Are you in the Society also?"
"Certainly, madame."
"What grade?"
He told her.
"Then you are helpless if he forbids your marriage."
"On the contrary, madame, my marriage or non-marriage has nothing
whatever to do with my obedience to the Society."
"He has control over Natalie--"
"Until she is twenty-one," he answered promptly.
"But," she said, regarding him with some apprehension in her eyes, "you
do not say--you do not suggest--that the child is opposed to her
father--that she thinks of marrying you, when she may legally do so,
against his wish?"
"My dear madame," said he, "it will be difficult for you to understand
how all this affair rests until you get to know something more about
Natalie herself.
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