Mr. Hermann is not after a fortune, he
only wants his girl; is that so? [Hermann nodded vigorously.] And
Miss Mackaye does not care about being supported in the manner of
living to which she has been accustomed; she only wants to live
with the man whom she has chosen; is that so? [Alice blushed and
nodded.] Well, then, why shouldn't you lay your course and sail
ahead together? You are both of age, aren't you?"
They smiled at each other. "Yes, and a little over."
"But my father!" said Alice. "You know I honor him, and I can
never deny his authority over me."
Here was the turn of the talk, the critical moment, the point where
the chosen counsellor had to fall back upon the ultimate reality
of his faith.
"Well," I said, "you are absolutely correct, dear daughter, in
your feeling toward your father. He has earned his money and has
a right to dispose of it as he will. But, you know, there is a
statute of limitations in regard to the authority of parents over
the _lives_ of their children. You have passed the limitation.
What do you want to do?"
"To be married to Will Hermann," she said, "for better for worse,
for richer for poorer, I don't care.
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