‘We would go to Australia,’ answered he, bitterly.  ’I have just said so.’

’Oh, no, my boy; you cannot do that.  You must not throw up the old place altogether.  There is no other one but you, Frank; and we have lived here now for so many, many years.’

‘But if we cannot live here any longer, father?’

’But for this scheme of yours, we might do.  I will give up everything to you, the management of the estate, the park, all the land we have in hand, if you will give up this fatal scheme.  For, Frank, it is fatal.  You are only twenty-three; why should you be in such a hurry to marry?’

‘You married at twenty-one, sir.’

Frank was again severe on his father, unwittingly.  ‘Yes, I did,’ said Mr Gresham; ’and see what has come of it!  Had I waited ten years longer, how different would everything have been!  No, Frank, I cannot consent to such a marriage; nor will your mother.’

’It is your consent that I ask, sir; and I am asking for nothing but your consent.’

’It would be sheer madness; madness for you both.  My own Frank, my dear boy, do not drive me to distraction!  Give it up for four years.’

‘Four years!’

’Yes; for four years.  I ask it as a personal favour; as an obligation to myself, in order that we may be saved from ruin; you, your mother, and sisters, your family name, and the old house.  I do not talk about myself; but were such a marriage to take place, I should be driven to despair.’

Frank found it very hard to resist his father, who now had hold of his hand and arm, and was thus half retaining him, and half embracing him.  ’Frank, say that you will forget this for four years—­say for three years.’

But Frank would not say so.  To postpone his marriage for four years, or for three, seemed to him to be tantamount to giving up Mary altogether; and he would not acknowledge that any one had the right to demand of him to do that.

‘My word is pledged, sir,’ he said.

‘Pledged!  Pledged to whom?’

‘To Miss Thorne.’

’But I will see her, Frank;—­and her uncle.  She was always reasonable. 
I am sure she will not wish to bring ruin on her old friends at
Greshamsbury.’

’Her old friends at Greshamsbury have done but little lately to deserve her consideration.  She has been treated shamefully.  I know it has not been by you, sir; but I must say so.  She has already been treated shamefully; but I will not treat her falsely.’

’Well, Frank, I can say no more to you.  I have destroyed the estate which should have been yours, and I have no right to expect you should regard what I say.’

Frank was greatly distressed.  He had not any feeling of animosity against his father with reference to the property, and would have done anything to make the squire understand this, short of giving up his engagement to Mary.  His feeling rather was, that, as each had a case against the other, they should cry quits; that he should forgive his father for his bad management, on condition that he himself was to be forgiven with regard to his determined marriage.  Not that he put it exactly in that shape, even to himself; but could he have unravelled his own thoughts, he would have found that such was the web on which they were based.