Dorothy said: "That I cannot tell you, father. You are wasting words in asking me."
"Is it because of his wish that you refuse to tell me his name?" asked Sir George. I nodded my head.
"Yes, father," softly responded Dorothy in the old dangerous, dulcet tones.
Dorothy kissed her father. He returned the caress, much to my surprise, and left the room.
When I turned to follow Sir George I glanced toward Dorothy. Her eyes were like two moons, so full were they of wonderment and inquiry.
I stopped with Sir George in his room. He was meditative and sad.
"I believe my Doll has told me the truth," he said.
"Have no doubt of it, Sir George," I replied.
"But what good intent can Leicester have toward my girl?" he asked.
"Of that I cannot say," I replied; "but my dear cousin, of this fact be sure: if he have evil intent toward Dorothy, he will fail."
"But there was the Robsart girl," he replied.
"Ay," said I, "but Dorothy Vernon is not Amy Robsart. Have no fear of your daughter. She is proof against both villany and craft. Had she been in Mistress Robsart's place, Leicester would not have deserted her. Dorothy is the sort of woman men do not desert. What say you to the fact that Leicester might wish to make her his wife?"
"He may purpose to do so secretly, as in the case of the Robsart girl," returned Sir George. "Go, Malcolm, and ask her if he is willing to make her his wife before the world."
I was glad of an opportunity for a word with Dorothy, so I hastily went to her. I told her of the Leicester phase of the situation, and I also told her that her father had asked me if the man whom she loved was willing to make her his wife before the world.
"Tell my father," said she, "that I will be no man's wife save before all the world. A man who will not acknowledge me never shall possess me."
I went back to Sir George and delivered the message word for word.
"She is a strange, strong girl, isn't she, Malcolm?" said her father.
"By my spurs she is. She should have been a man," said Sir George, with a twinkle of admiration in his eyes. He admired a good fight even though he were beaten in it.
It is easy to be good when we are happy. Dorothy, the great disturber, was both. Therefore, peace reigned once more in Haddon Hall.