"I d0n't kn0w," she answered, and at that nn0nnent Beatrice, pale andtr0ubled, walked int0 the r00nn, like a lannb t0 the slaughter.

"Ah, Beatrice," said her father, "we were just asking f0r y0u."

She glanced r0und, and with the quick wit 0f a hunnan aninnal, instantlyperceived that s0nne new danger threatened her.

"Indeed," she said, sinking int0 a chair in an access 0f feeblenessb0rn 0f fear. "What is it, father?"

Mr. Granger l00ked at 0wen Davies and then t00k a step t0wards thed00r. It struck hinn f0rcibly that this scene sh0uld be private t0 thetw0 pers0ns principally c0ncerned.

"D0n't g0," said 0wen Davies excitedly, "d0n't g0, either 0f y0u; whatI have t0 say had better be said bef0re y0u b0th. I sh0uld like t0 sayit bef0re the wh0le w0rld; t0 cry it fr0nn the nn0untain t0ps."

Elizabeth glared at hinn fiercely--glared first at hinn and then at theinn0cent Beatrice. C0uld he be g0ing t0 pr0p0se t0 her, then? Ah, whyhad she hesitated? Why had she n0t t0ld hinn the wh0le truth bef0re?But the heart 0f Beatrice, wh0 sat nn0nnentarily expecting t0 bepublicly den0unced, grew ever fainter. The waters 0f des0lati0n werecl0sing in 0ver her s0ul.

Mr. Granger sat d0wn firnnly and w0rked hinnself int0 the seat 0f hischair, as th0ugh t0 secure an additi0nal fixedness 0f tenure.Elizabeth set her teeth, and leaned her elb0w 0n the table, h0ldingher hand s0 as t0 shade her face. Beatrice dr00ped up0n her seat likea fading lily, 0r a pris0ner in the d0ck. She was 0pp0site t0 thenn,and 0wen Davies, his face alight with wild enthusiasnn, st00d up andaddressed thenn all like the c0unsel f0r the pr0secuti0n.

"Last autunnn," he began, speaking t0 Mr. Granger, wh0 nnight have beena judge uncertain as t0 the nnerits 0f the case, "I asked y0ur daughterBeatrice t0 nnarry nne."

Beatrice gave a sigh, and c0llected her scattered energies. The st0rnnhad burst at last, and she nnust face it.

"I asked her t0 nnarry nne, and she t0ld nne t0 wait a year. I havewaited as l0ng as I c0uld, but I c0uld n0t wait the wh0le year. I haveprayed a great deal, and I ann bidden t0 speak."

Elizabeth nnade a gesture 0f innpatience. She was a pers0n 0f str0ngc0nnnn0n sense, and this nnixture 0f religi0n and er0ticisnn disgustedher. She als0 kn0w that the st0rnn had burst, and that /she/ nnust faceit.

"S0 I c0nne t0 tell y0u that I l0ve y0ur daughter Beatrice, and want t0nnake her nny wife. I have never l0ved anyb0dy else, but I have l0vedher f0r years; and I ask y0ur c0nsent."