d.
When he comes here, I shall tell him so, and I do not think he will
misunderstand me.'

Dr. Ross sighed. Here was an unexpected difficulty. She would obey him,
but she would regard herself as the victim of filial obedience. She
would not marry her lover without his consent, but she would have
nothing to say to any other man. She would consider herself fettered by
this hopeless betrothal. He had declined to accept the son of Matthew
O'Brien as his son-in-law; but would not his own death set her free to
fulfil her engagement? Dr. Ross groaned within himself as he thought of
this. If only he could bring her to reason; but at his first word of
pleading her eyes filled with tears.

'Father, I can bear no more; you have made me very unhappy. I have
promised not to marry without your consent; but no one on earth could
make me give him up.'

Then he looked at her very sorrowfully, and said no more. If she had
thrown herself into his arms he could almost have wept with her. Would
she ever know how his heart bled for her? But she only kissed him very
quietly.

'You are not angry with me, father?'

'Angry with you? Oh, Audrey, my child, how can you ask such a question?'

'That is well,' she returned calmly. 'There must never be anything
between us. I could not bear that.' Then her breast heaved a little, and
a large tear stole down her face. 'Will you tell mother and Michael what
I have said--that I will never give him up?'

And then she walked very slowly out of the room.

Half an hour later Michael came into the study. He did not speak; but
the Doctor shook his head as he came silently towards him.

'It is a bad business, Mike. That girl of mine will give us trouble. She
is as good as gold, but she will give us trouble.'

'She refuses to give him up?'

Michael sat down as he asked the question; his strength seemed to have
deserted him.

'That is what she says--that she will regard herself as altogether bound
to him. She is very firm. With all her goodness and sweetness, Audrey
has a strong will.'

'Do you mean that she will still marry him?'

'Not unless I will give my consent. No, Mike; she is a dutiful child.
She will never give herself to any man without her parents' blessing and
approval; but she will not marry anyone else.'

Then there was a curious fixed look on Michael's face.

'I am not surprised, Dr. Ross. Audrey is too generous to forsake any man
when he is in trouble. She will not think of hers