go with me."

"Ah, will you take him?" she cried, falling to the floor on her knees,
creeping between mine, and clasping her hands about my neck. Her sweet,
warm breath came to me like a waft from a field of roses, the fluffy
shreds of her hair tingled my cheek, thrilling me to the heart, while the
touch of her hand and the clasp of her arm carried me to heaven.

Then she laid her head on my breast, her lips came close to mine, and she
murmured with a sigh:--

"Now, Baron Ned, as you will."

I told Betty to call Pickering, and when he came in I related my story.
I told him how Betty and I were of one mind, how George had prospered in
France and had invited me to share his good fortune, how I wanted to go
to France and to take Bettina with me, and how I wanted him to sell the
Old Swan and go with us to the fair land across the Channel, where his
wealth would give him station such as he deserved.

Immediately he objected, saying that the scheme was impossible. He said
that he could sell the Old Swan for a great sum to Robbins, of the Dog's
Head, and that all he possessed, aside from the inn, was in gold, lodged
with Backwell, but for all that, my plan could not be considered for a
moment.

"My dear Pickering, hear my side of the case," I insisted, determined to
win this last bout as I had won the others. "You love your daughter and
would be unhappy if she were to leave you alone in the world?"

"Indeed I should be," he answered firmly. "I will not consider your
suggestion. I will not. I will not."

"She is more generous than you," I returned, "and refuses to leave you,
though she would be very unhappy if you force her to remain."

"I suppose you think so," he replied sullenly.

"I know so," I answered, "and can prove it by Betty." Betty nodded her
head "Yes," and I continued: "You will not be unhappy in France with us.
You will be happy. Yet you refuse to be happy save in your own stubborn
way, even though you bring grief to the tenderest heart in the world. But
come, come, Pickering! This will not do! I tell you, I'm not to be
refused!"

Pickering lapsed into stubborn silence, and as there is no arguing with a
man who will not argue, I determined to take another course; so I spoke
sharply:--

"Since you will not be reasonable, I have another plan to suggest: I
will give up my prospects of fortune in France, and will live here in
this rotten Old Swan as long as you live, never taking Betty from your
side. I