'That is my brave boy,' murmured his father at last, watching him with a sort of wistful pain; 'but, Cardie, I cannot but feel grieved that you have set your heart on this girl.'
'What! do you doubt the wisdom or the fitness of my choice?' demanded the young man hotly.
'Both, Cardie; the girl is everything that one could wish; dear to me almost as a daughter of my own, but Trelawny--ah, my poor boy, do you dream that you can satisfy her father's ambition?'
'I shall not try to do so,' returned Richard, speaking with set lips; 'I know him too well; he would sell her to the highest bidder, sell his own flesh and blood; but she is too noble for his corrupting influence.'
'I speak as I feel. Look here, father, foolishly or wisely, it does not matter now, I have set my heart on this thing; I have grown up with this one idea before me, the hope of one day, however distant, calling Ethel Trelawny my wife. I do not think I am one to change.'
'I am as sure of the faithfulness of my own heart as I am that I am standing here; young as I am, I know I love her as you loved my mother.'
His father covered his face with his hand.
'I must say what is true; you would not have me lie to you.'
'Surely not; but, my boy, this is a hard hearing.'
'You are thinking of Mr. Trelawny,' returned Richard, quietly; 'that is not my worst fear; my chief obstacle is Ethel herself.'
'What! you doubt her returning your affection?' asked his father.
'Yes, I doubt it,' was the truthful answer; but it was made with quivering lips. 'I dread lest I should not satisfy her exacting fastidiousness; but all the same I mean to try; you will bid me Godspeed, father?'
'Yes, yes; but, Cardie, be prudent, remember how little you have to offer--a few hundreds a year where she has thousands, not even a curacy!'
'You think I ought to wait a little; another year--two perhaps?'
Richard crossed the room once or twice with a rapid, disordered stride, and then he returned to his father's side.
'You are right; I must not do anything rashly or impulsively just because I fear to lose her. I ought not to speak even to her until I have taken orders; and yet if I could only make her understand how it is without speaking.'
'You must be very prudent, Cardie; remember my son has no right to aspire to an heiress.'