But furthermore, and on the other hand, suppose I should say in reply to his demand, “No, you cannot marry her”--what right had I to say that? What reason could I allege in justification of my refusal? Not the actual reason; for that would be to tell him the very story which, I had made up my mind, I must not and should not tell. And if I alleged a fictitious reason, I should simply escape the devil to plunge into the deep sea--I should simply exchange a lie for a falsehood. These young people loved each other. Therefore, to set up impediments to their union, would be to impose upon each of them endless unmerited pain. What right had I to do that? It was a vexed and difficult quandary. There were strong arguments for and strong arguments against either course out of it.
“Well, Dr. Benary, you do not answer me,” Fairchild said.
“I can't answer you. You must give me time--time to consider, to consult my sister, to make up my mind.”
We had been strolling together, he and I, up and down the sands. Now we returned to the inn. Josephine was seated on the verandah, near the entrance.
“Ah, Leonard, at last!” she exclaimed, starting up the moment she caught sight of me. “I have been waiting for you.”
“Well,” she began, as soon as the door was closed behind us, “the worst has happened, as I suppose you know. Mr. Fairchild has spoken to you, has he not?”
“Ah! Then you, too, know about it?” queried I.
“Miriam has just told me the whole story.”
“That Mr. Fairchild has asked her to be his wife; that she loves him, and has accepted him--conditionally, that is, upon your approval.”
“She says she loves him with all her heart. She says she is as happy as the day is long. She doesn't dream that you will have any hesitation about consenting.”
For a little while we were silent. At last, “Well, what are you going to do?” my sister asked.
“That is what I wish to advise with you about.”
“Have you given any answer to Mr. Fair-child?”
“I have said to him that I must take time for reflection, and for consultation with you.”
“But you have got to make up your mind, one way or the other; and that speedily. It is cruel to keep them in suspense.”
“That's just it. That's just the difficulty, isn't it?”
“But it is a difficulty which must be solved. You will have to say one of the two.”