Alan made one more effort. In a very earnest voice, he began to
expound to his father Herminia's point of view. Dr. Merrick
listened for a second or two in calm impatience. Then he consulted
his watch. "Excuse me," he said. "I have just three minutes. Let
us get at once to the practical part--the therapeutics of the case,
omitting its aetiology: You're going to take the young lady to
Italy. When she gets there, will she marry you? And do you expect
me to help in providing for you both after this insane adventure?"
Alan's face was red as fire. "She will NOT marry me when she gets
to Italy," he answered decisively. "And I don't want you to do
anything to provide for either of us."
The father looked at him with the face he was wont to assume in
scanning the appearance of a confirmed monomaniac. "She will not
marry you," he answered slowly; "and you intend to go on living
with her in open concubinage! A lady of birth and position! Is
that your meaning?"
"Father," Alan cried despairingly, "Herminia would not consent to
live with me on any other terms. To her it would be disgraceful,
shameful, a sin, a reproach, a dereliction of principle. She
COULDN'T go back upon her whole past life. She lives for nothing
else but the emancipation of women."
"And you will aid and abet her in her folly?" the father asked,
looking up sharply at him. "You will persist in this evil course?
You will face the world and openly defy morality?"
"I will not counsel the woman I most love and admire to purchase
her own ease by proving false to her convictions," Alan answered
stoutly.
Dr. Merrick gazed at the watch on his table once more. Then he
rose and rang the bell. "Patient here?" he asked curtly. "Show
him in then at once. And, Napper, if Mr. Alan Merrick ever calls
again, will you tell him I'm out?--and your mistress as well, and
all the young ladies." He turned coldly to Alan. "I must guard
your mother and sisters at least," he said in a chilly voice, "from
the contamination of this woman's opinions."
Alan bowed without a word, and left the room. He never again saw
the face of his father.