King of the Castle Part 38

"Hush, my dear, let me speak; you shall have your turn. Glyddyr is the representative of a good old Welsh family. He had three hundred thousand pounds at his father's death, and, best of all, he loves my darling child very dearly. Now, what do you say to that?"

"I do not love Mr Glyddyr," replied Claude coldly.

"Tut, tut, tut. Nonsense, my dear, not yet. It is the man who loves first; that makes an impression upon the woman, who, as soon as she feels the influence of the man's affection, begins to love him in return. A man's love begins like a flash; a woman's is a slow growth.

That is nature, my dear, and you cannot improve upon her."

"Papa, I--"

"Now, don't be hasty, my child. Glyddyr is a very good fellow--a thorough gentleman. I like him, he loves you, and if you will only put aside all that boy and girl nonsense of the past, you will soon like him too--more than you can conceive. But, as he reasonably enough says, you don't give him a chance."

"Did Mr Glyddyr say that?" said Claude, with her lip curling.

"Yes; and really, Claude, you are sometimes almost rude to him with your coldness. Come, my dear, I want you to see that it is the dearest wish of my life to have you happy."

"Yes, papa dear, I know it is, but--"

"Now, let's have no buts. I favour Glyddyr's suit because he is all one could desire, and he came to me like a frank gentleman and told me how he saw you first and took a fancy to you, but thought he should forget it all; then felt his love grow stronger, and, as he has shown us--he has waited months and months to prove himself--felt that you were the woman who would make him happy and--"

"I could not make Mr Glyddyr happy, papa."

"Nonsense, dear! What do you know of such things? I say you can, and that he can make you very happy and me, too, in seeing you married well."

"Papa, dear, I don't think you quite understand a woman's heart," said Claude.

"I understand a girl's, my dear--yours in particular--so now I want you to set aside some of this stiff formality, and to meet Glyddyr in a more friendly way. Of course I don't want you to throw yourself at his head.

You are an extremely wealthy heiress. I've made my money for you, my pet, and you can afford to be proud, and to hold him off. Make him know your value, and woo and win you, but, hang it all, my child, don't turn yourself into an icicle, and freeze the poor fellow's pa.s.sion solid."

"Papa, dear, you said I should speak soon."

"And so you shall, my darling; but I have not quite done. I want you to think all this over, and to look at it as a duty first, then as a matter of affection. Oh, it's all right, my pet. I'm glad to see so much maiden modesty and dutiful behaviour. I didn't want him to think he had only to hold out his hand for you to jump at it; certainly not. You are a prize worth winning, and you are quite right to teach him your value, you clever little jade. There, I think I've nearly done. Only begin to melt a little now, and give the poor fellow a bit of encouragement. And you must not be piqued at his saying you were so distant. I drew that out of him. He did not come to complain, though I must say he had good cause. There, now, I have quite done, and I am sure my darling sees the common sense of all this. I don't want to lose my Claudie, and I shouldn't at all dislike a trip on the Continent with her. There's no hurry--a year--two, if you like. I'll let my pet make her own terms, only let's give the poor fellow a chance. Then I may tell Glyddyr?"

"No, father dear," said Claude firmly; "you must not tell Mr Glyddyr anything."

"What?"

"He is a man I do not like."

Gartram's countenance changed a little, but he kept down his anger.

"Not yet, my dear, not yet, of course. It is not natural that you should, but you will in time, and the more for feeling a bit diffident now. Come, we understand one another, and I won't say a word to the poor boy. You will let him feel that the winter is pa.s.sing, the thaw beginning. Give him a little spring first, and the summer in full swing by-and-by."

Claude shook her head.

"It is impossible, papa, dear. I could never like Mr Glyddyr."

"Now, my dear child, don't make me angry by adopting that obstinate tone. You are too young yet to understand your own mind."

"I know I could never love Mr Glyddyr sufficiently to be his wife."

"Now, look here--"

"Don't be angry with me, dear. You wish me to be always frank and plain with you?"

"Of course, but--"

"I must know about a matter like this. I do not and cannot love this man."

"Absurd, Claude."

"I don't want to marry. Let me stay here with you. I can be very happy amongst the people I know, and who know me, and require my help."

"Yes; a gang of impostors sucking my money through you."

"No, no. What I give is to make you loved and venerated by the poor people who are sometimes in distress."

"Now I don't want a lecture on the relief of the poor, my dear," said Gartram quickly. "I want you to quietly accept my wishes. I am your father, and I know what is for your good."

Claude was silent, for she knew by familiar signs that the tempest was about to burst.

"Do you think I wish you to marry some penniless scoundrel, who wants to get my money to make ducks and drakes with it? There: I was getting cross, but I am not going to be. Once more, there is no hurry. Thaw by degrees. It will prove Glyddyr to you, and let you see that the poor fellow is thoroughly sincere. Come, my pet, we understand each other now? Hang it all, Claude, don't look at me like that!"

"My dearest father," she cried, after a moment's hesitation, and she threw herself upon his breast and nestled to him, "are you not making a mistake?"

"No; I am too much of a business man, my dear. I am not making a mistake, unless it is in being too easy with you, and pleading when I might command. There, I'm glad you agree with me."

"No, no, papa; I cannot," she said tearfully.

"Now, Claude, my darling, don't make me angry. You know what my health is, and how, if I am crossed, it irritates me. You are my obedient child, and you agree with what I say?"

"No, papa," she said imploringly; "I cannot."

"Then you are thinking still of that beggarly, fortune-hunting scoundrel Lisle?"

"Father, dear, don't speak like that of Christopher Lisle. He is a true gentleman."

"He is a true money-seeking vagabond, and I have forbidden him my house for the best of reasons. I would sooner see you dead than the wife of a man like that."

Claude shrank away from him, and her convulsed face hardened, with the faint resemblance to her father beginning to appear.

"You are unjust to him."

"It is false, madam," he cried excitedly, with his brow beginning to grow knotty. "I know the scoundrel by heart, and as you are refusing to meet me on the terms full of gentleness and love which I propose, you must be prepared for firmness. Now, please understand. It is the dearest wish of my heart that you should marry Parry Glyddyr. I like him; he is the man I wish to have for my son-in-law; and he loves you.

Those are strong enough points for me, and I'll have no opposition."

"Father!"

"Silence! I will not hurry matters, but you may look upon this as a thing which is definitely settled. Glyddyr is coming here this morning, as I told you before. I shall tell him that we have come to an understanding, and that he may consider himself as accepted, with a long probation to go through. There, you see, I am quite calm, for I make that concession to you--plenty of time."