Free THE PRIME MINISTER by DAVID SKILTON Page B

Roby’s niece. He had made Emily herself believe that the one strong passion of his life was his love for her, and this he had done without ever haying asked for her love. And he had even taken the trouble to allure Dick, and had listened to and had talked whole pages out of
Bell’s Life
. On his own behalf it must be acknowledged thathe did love the girl, as well perhaps as he was capable of loving anyone; – but he had found out many particulars as to Mr Wharton’s money before he had allowed himself to love her.
    As soon as Mrs Roby had gathered up her knitting, and declared, as she always did on such occasions, that she could go round the corner without having anyone to look after her, Mr Wharton began. ‘Emily, my dear, comehere.’ Then she came and sat on a footstool at his feet, and looked up into his face. ‘Do you know what I am going to speak to you about, my darling?’
    ‘Yes, papa; I think I do. It is about – Mr Lopez.’
    ‘Your aunt has told you, I suppose. Yes; it is about Mr Lopez. I have been very much astonished to-day by Mr Lopez, – a man of whom I have seen very little and know less. He came to me to-dayand asked for my permission – to address you.’ She sat perfectly quiet, still looking at him, but she did not say a word. ‘Of course I did not give him permission.’
    ‘Why of course, papa?’
    ‘Because he is a stranger and a foreigner. Would you have wished me to tell him that he might come?’
    ‘Yes, papa.’ He was sitting on a sofa, and shrank back a little from her as she made this free avowal. ‘Inthat case I could have judged for myself I suppose every girl would like to do that.’
    ‘But should you have accepted him?’
    ‘I think I should have consulted you before I did that. But I shouldhave wished to accept him. Papa, I do love him. I have never said so before to anyone. I would not say so to you now, if he had not – spoken to you as he has done.’
    ‘Emily, it must not be.’
    ‘Why not, papa?If you say it shall not be so, it shall not. I will do as you bid me.’ Then he put out his hand and caressed her, stroking down her hair. ‘But I think you ought to tell me why it must not be, – as I do love him.’
    ‘He is a foreigner.’
    ‘But is he? And why should not a foreigner be as good as an Englishman? His name is foreign, but he talks English and lives as an Englishman.’
    ‘He has no relatives,no family, no belongings. He is what we call an adventurer. Marriage, my dear, is a most serious thing.’
    ‘Yes, papa, I know that.’
    ‘One is bound to be very careful. How can I give you to a man I know nothing about, – an adventurer? What would they say in Herefordshire?’
    ‘I don’t know why they should say anything, but if they did I shouldn’t much care.’
    ‘I should, my dear. I should care verymuch. One is bound to think of one’s family. Suppose it should turn out afterwards that he was – disreputable!’
    ‘You may say that of any man, papa.’
    ‘But when a man has connections, a father and mother, or uncles and aunts, people that everybody knows about, then there is some guarantee of security. Did you ever hear this man speak of his father?’
    ‘I don’t know that I ever did.’
    ‘Or his mother,– or his family? Don’t you think that is suspicious?’
    ‘I will ask him, papa, if you wish.’
    ‘No, I would have you ask him nothing. I would not wish that there should be opportunity for such asking. If there has been intimacy between you, such information should have come naturally, – as a thing of course. You have made him no promise?’
    ‘Oh no, papa.’
    ‘Nor spoken to him – of your regard forhim?’
    ‘Never; – not a word. Nor he to me, – except in such words as one understands even though they say nothing.’
    ‘I wish he had never seen you.’
    ‘Is he a bad man, papa?’
    ‘Who knows? I cannot tell. He may be ever so bad. How is one to know whether a man be bad or good when one knows nothing about