Mr. Harnden rose and stuck out his frontal convexity and wagged a forefinger.  “Now you’re getting off the question of business—­just as you accused me of getting off it!” He slapped his breast.  “I’m a business man these days.  I’m no longer a man with visions, needing a daughter’s sacrifices, like you have twitted me of being.  Keep still!  I’m talking!” he squealed.  He was displaying more of the new and cocky demeanor that had been his for some time.  He had been especially set up for a few days prior to his announcement that Tasper Britt was coming into the Harnden home as lodger and guest at table.  “Business it is!  Britt will pay board enough, seeing that he has come to my—­my terms, so that your mother can keep a hired girl for the first time in her life.  Are you so selfish as to want to have your mother—­my wife—­go on potwalloping in the kitchen for the rest of her days?  If that’s so, you’ll find that my pride will override your selfishness.”

“Father, I will stay at home and do all the work, if you’ll keep our home from being desecrated by that man!”

Mr. Harnden reared his crest and advanced one foot.  “I have raised my daughter to be a lady and will keep her so!  I’m now in a position to do it without any of her help.”

Vona stood up then.  But not to fling angry retort at her father!  She knew that she was able to conquer the raging self that was urging her to tell both of them what she thought of their idiotic persistency in backing the attentions of Britt.  Being victor over herself in that conflict with self where so many fail, she felt courage to battle in another quarter.  Since Frank had been penned up where he could not fight, she had felt that she was the champion for their mutual interests, and she was resolved to keep on valiantly.  “Father, you know how I stand in the matter of Frank Vaniman.”

“I have broken your engagement with that jailbird.”

“Vona, I have told you repeatedly that I will never consent to your marrying that man,” shrilled Mrs. Harnden.  “What does the Bible say about obeying your parents?”

The girl was tensely suppressing her emotions.  “The outsiders merely know that I am engaged to marry him.  But both of you know that I am married to him.”

Mr. Harnden sat down in order to express his emotions; Mrs. Harnden stood up.  Their duet of disavowal of any such knowledge was keyed high.

“You heard me when I married him—­in your presence—­under this roof.  The legal formality can wait.  But I am married.  In my heart I am married.  It is enough for me until he comes back to me.  And what God hath joined together let not man put asunder!” She said it reverently, with all her soul in her tones, all her woman’s resolution of loyalty in her eyes.

They tried to say something, but in the face of her demeanor of firmness their opposition was futile, and they probably realized it, for they became silent and allowed her to speak on.