"You think I love your daughter?" said Sir Philip quietly. "You are not mistaken, Sir! I love her with my whole heart and soul! I want you to give her to me as my wife."
A change passed over the old farmer's face. He grew deathly pale, and put out one hand feebly as though to seek some support. Errington caught it in his own and pressed it hard.
"Surely you are not surprised, Sir?" he added with eagerness. "How can I help loving her! She is the best and loveliest girl I have ever seen! Believe me,--I would make her happy!"
"And have you thought, young man," returned Güldmar slowly, "that you would make me desolate?--or, thinking it, have you cared?"
There was an infinite pathos in his voice, and Errington was touched and silent. He found no answer to this reproach. Güldmar sat down, leaning his head on his hand.
"Let me think a little," he said. "My mind is confused a bit. I was not prepared for--"
He paused and seemed lost in sorrowful meditation. By-and-by he looked up, and meeting Errington's anxious gaze, he broke into a short laugh.
"Don't mind me, my lad!" he said sturdily. "'Tis a blow, you see! I had not thought so far as this. I'll tell you the plain truth, and you must forgive me for wronging you. I know what young blood is, all the world over. A fair face fires it--and impulse makes it gallop beyond control. 'Twas so with me when I was your age,--though no woman, I hope, was ever the worse for my harmless lovemaking. But Thelma is different from most women,--she has a strange nature,--moreover, she has a heart and a memory,--if she once learns the meaning of love, she will never unlearn the lesson. Now, I thought, that like most young men of your type, you might, without meaning any actual evil, trifle with her--play with her feelings--"
"I understand, Sir," said Philip coolly, without displaying any offense. "To put it plainly, in spite of your liking for me, you thought me a snob."
This time the old man laughed heartily and unforcedly.
"Dear, dear!" he exclaimed. "You are what is termed in your own land, a peppery customer! Never mind--I like it. Why, my lad, the men of to-day think it fair sport to trifle with a pretty woman now and then--"
"Pardon!" interrupted Philip curtly. "I must defend my sex. We may occasionally trifle with those women who show us that they wish to be trifled with--but never with those who, like your daughter, win every man's respect and reverence."