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eyes looking him in the face。 〃Yes； my father； that is so； as I have
told you already。〃
〃And I tell you； Marie； what I have told you already； and you too；
Allan； that this thing may not be；〃 answered Marais； hitting the table
with his fist。 〃I have nothing to say against you； Allan； indeed； I
honour you； and you have done me a mighty service； but it may not be。〃
〃Why not； mynheer？〃 I asked。
〃For three reasons； Allan； each of which is final。 You are English； and
I do not wish my daughter to marry an Englishman； that is the first。
You are poor； which is no discredit to you； and since I am now ruined my
daughter cannot marry a poor man； that is the second。 You live here；
and my daughter and I are leaving this country； therefore you cannot
marry her； that is the third；〃 and he paused。
〃Is there not a fourth；〃 I asked； 〃which is the real reason？ Namely；
that you wish your daughter to marry someone else。〃
〃Yes； Allan； since you force me to it； there is a fourth。 I have
affianced my daughter to her cousin； Hernando Pereira； a man of
substance and full age； no lad； but one who knows his own mind and can
support a wife。〃
〃I understand；〃 I answered calmly； although within my heart a very hell
was raging。 〃But tell me； mynheer； has Marie affianced herselfor
perhaps she will answer with her own lips？〃
〃Yes； Allan；〃 replied Marie in her quiet fashion； 〃I have affianced
myselfto you and no other man。〃
〃You hear； mynheer；〃 I said to Marais。
Then he broke out in his usual excitable manner。 He stormed； he argued；
he rated us both。 He said that he would never allow it； that first he
would see his daughter in her grave。 That I had abused his confidence
and violated his hospitality； that he would shoot me if I came near his
girl。 That she was a minor； and according to the law he could dispose
of her in marriage。 That she must accompany him whither he was going；
that certainly I should not do so； and much more of the same sort。
When at last he had tired himself out and smashed his favourite pipe
upon the table； Marie spoke； saying：
〃My father； you know that I love you dearly； for since my mother's death
we have been everything to each other； have we not？〃
〃Surely； Marie； you are my life； and more than my life。〃
〃Very well； my father。 That being so； I acknowledge your authority over
me； whatever the law may say。 I acknowledge that you have the right to
forbid me to marry Allan； and if you do forbid mewhile I am under age；
at any rateI shall not marry him because of my duty to you。
But〃here she rose and looked him full in the eyes； and oh！ how stately
she seemed at that moment in her simple strength and youthful
grace！〃there is one thing； my father； that I do not acknowledgeyour
right to force me to marry any other man。 As a woman with power over
herself； I deny that right； and much as it pains me； my father； to
refuse you anything； I say that first I will die。 To Allan here I have
given myself for good or for evil； and if I may not marry Allan； I will
go to the grave unwed。 If my words hurt you； I pray you to pardon me；
but at the same time to remember that they are my words； which cannot be
altered。〃
Marais looked at his daughter； and his daughter looked at Marais。 At
first I thought that he was about to curse her； but if this were so；
something in her eyes seemed to change his mind； for all he said was：
〃Intractable； like the rest of your race！ Well； Fate may lead those who
cannot be driven； and this matter I leave in the hands of Fate。 While
you are under agethat is； for two years or moreyou may not marry
without my consent； and have just promised not to do so。 Presently we
trek from this country into far…off lands。 Who knows what may happen
there？〃
〃Yes；〃 said my father in a solemn voice； speaking for the first time；
〃who knows except God； Who governs all things； and will settle these
matters according to His will； Henri Marais？ Listen；〃 he went on after
a pause； for Marais made no answer； but sat himself down and stared
gloomily at the table。 〃You do not wish my son to marry your daughter
for various reasons； of which one is that you think him poor and a
richer suitor has offered himself after a reverse of fortune has made
_you_ poor。 Another and a greater； the true reason； is his English
blood； which you hate so much that； although by God's mercy he saved her
life； you do not desire that he should share her life。 Is it not true？〃
〃Yes； it is true； Mynheer Quatermain。 You English are bullies and
cheats；〃 he answered excitedly。
〃And so you would give your daughter to one who has shown himself humble
and upright； to that good hater of the English and plotter against his
King； Hernando Pereira； whom you love because he alone is left of your
ancient race。〃
Remembering the incident of the afternoon； this sarcasm reduced Marais
to silence。
〃Well；〃 went on my father； 〃although I am fond of Marie； and know her to
be a sweet and noble…hearted girl； neither do I wish that she should
marry my son。 I would see him wed to some English woman； and not
dragged into the net of the Boers and their plottings。 Still； it is
plain that these two love each other with heart and soul； as doubtless
it has been decreed that they should love。 This being so； I tell you
that to separate them and force another marriage upon one of them is a
crime before God； of which； I am sure； He will take note and pay it back
to you。 Strange things may happen in those lands whither you go； Henri
Marais。 Will you not； then； be content to leave your child in safe
keeping？〃
〃Never！〃 shouted Marais。 〃She shall accompany me to a new home； which
is not under the shadow of your accursed British flag。〃
〃Then I have no more to say。 On your head be it here and hereafter；〃
replied my father solemnly。
Now unable to control myself any longer I broke in：
〃But I have； mynheer。 To separate Marie and myself is a sin； and one
that will break her heart。 As for my poverty； I have something； more
perhaps than you think； and in this rich country wealth can be earned by
those who work； as I would do for her sake。 The man to whom you would
give her showed his true nature this day； for he who can play so low a
trick to win a wager； will play worse tricks to win greater things。
Moreover； the scheme must fail since Marie will not marry him。〃
〃I say she shall；〃 replied Marais； 〃and that whether she does or not；
she shall accompany me and not stay here to be the wife of an English
boy。〃
〃Accompany you I will； father； and share your fortunes to the last。 But
marry Hernando Pereira I will not；〃 said Marie quietly。
〃Perhaps； mynheer；〃 I added； 〃days may come when once again you will be
glad of the help of an 'English boy。'〃
The words were spoken at random； a kind of ejaculation from the heart；
caused by the sting of Marais's cruelty and insults； like