“No,” answered Alan, “you need not fear that, for it would be wrong.  I understand that you absolutely refuse to sanction my suit on the ground of my poverty, which under the circumstances is perhaps not wonderful.  Well, the only thing to do is to wait for two years, a long time, but not endless, and meanwhile I can try to better my position.”

“Do what you will, Alan,” said Mr. Haswell harshly, for now all his faux bonhomme manner had gone, leaving him revealed in his true character of an unscrupulous tradesman with dark ends of his own to serve.  “Do what you will, but understand that I forbid all communication between you and my niece, and that the sooner you cease to trespass upon a hospitality which you have abused, the better I shall be pleased.”

“I will go at once,” said Alan, rising, “before my temper gets the better of me and I tell you some truths that I might regret, for after all you are Barbara’s uncle.  But on your part I ask you to understand that I refuse to cut off from my cousin, who is of full age and has promised to be my wife,” and he turned to go.

“Stop a minute, Alan,” said Barbara, who all this while had sat silent.  “I have something to say which I wish you to hear.  You told us just now, uncle, that you have other views for me, by which you meant that you wish me to marry Sir Robert Aylward, whom, as you are probably aware, I refused definitely this afternoon.  Now I wish to make it clear at once that no earthly power will induce me to take as a husband a man whom I dislike, and whose wealth, of which you think so much, has in my opinion been dishonestly acquired.”

“What are you saying?” broke in her uncle furiously.  “He has been my partner for years, you are reflecting upon me.”

“I am sorry, uncle, but I withdraw nothing.  Even if Alan here were dead, I would not marry that man, and perhaps you will make him understand this,” she added with emphasis.  “Indeed I had sooner die myself.  You told us also that if I marry against your will, you can take away all the property that my father left to me.  Uncle, I shall not give you that satisfaction.  I shall wait until I am twenty-five and do what I please with myself and my fortune.  Lastly, you said that you forbade us to see each other or to correspond.  I answer that I shall both write to and see Alan as often as I like.  If you attempt to prevent me from doing so, I shall go to the Court of Chancery, lay all the facts before it, as I have been advised that I can do—­not by Alan—­please remember, all the facts, and ask for its protection and for a separate maintenance out of my estate until I am twenty-five.  I am sure that the Court would grant me this and would declare that considering his distinguished family and record Alan is a perfectly proper person to be my affianced husband.  I think that is all I have to say.”

“All you have to say!” gasped Mr. Haswell, “all you have to say, you impertinent and ungrateful minx!” Then he fell into a furious fit of rage and in language that need not be repeated, poured a stream of threats and abuse upon Alan and herself.  Barbara waited until he ceased from exhaustion.