“I have certainly spared no pains to persuade her.  Unless the habit of her childhood can induce Marian to defer to your prejudice—­you must allow me to call it so:  it is really nothing more—­she will keep her word to me.”

Mr. Lind winced, recollecting how little his conduct toward Marian during her childhood was calculated to accustom her to his influence.  “It seems to me, sir,” he said, suddenly thinking of a new form of reproach, “that, to use your own plain language, you are nothing more or less than a Radical.”

“Radicalism is not considered a reproach amongst workmen,” said Conolly.

“I shall not fail to let her know the confidence with which you boast of your power over her.”

“I have simply tried to be candid with you.  You know exactly how I stand.  If I have omitted anything, ask me, and I will tell you at once.”

Mr. Kind rose.  “I know quite as much as I care to know,” he said.  “I distinctly object to and protest against all your proceedings, Mr. Conolly.  If my daughter marries you, she shall have neither my countenance in society nor one solitary farthing of the fortune I had destined for her.  I recommend the latter point to your attention.”

“I have considered it carefully, Mr. Lind; and I am satisfied with what she possesses in her own right.”

“Oh!  You have ascertained that, have you?”

“I should hardly have proposed to marry her but for her entire pecuniary independence of me.”

“Indeed.  And have you explained to her that you wish to marry her for the sake of securing her income?”

“I have explained to her everything she ought to know, taking care, of course, to have full credit for my frankness.”

Mr. Lind, after regarding him with amazement for a moment, walked to the door.

“I am a gentleman,” he said, pausing there for a moment, “and too old-fashioned to discuss the obligations of good breeding with a Radical.  If I had believed you capable of the cynical impudence with which you have just met my remonstrances, I should have spared myself this meeting.  Good-morning.”

“Good-morning,” said Conolly, gravely.  When the door closed, he sprang up and walked to and fro, chuckling, rubbing his hands, and occasionally uttering a short laugh.  When he had sufficiently relieved himself by this exercise, he sat down at his desk, and wrote a note.

  “The Conolly Electro-Motor Company of London, Limited.  Queen
  Victoria Street, E.C.

“This is to let your ever-radiant ladyship know that I am fresh from an encounter with your father, who has retired in great wrath, defeated, but of opinion that he deserved no better for arguing with a Radical.  I thought it better to put forth my strength at once so as to save future trouble.  I send this post haste in order that you may be warned in case he should go straight home and scold you.  I hope he will not annoy you