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Now； the arrangement was that my father and I were to sleep that night
at Marais's stead； returning home on the following morning。 But my
father； who had been a silent but not unobservant witness of all this
scene； coming to the conclusion that after what had happened we should
scarcely be welcome there； and that the company of Pereira was to be
avoided just now； went up to Marais and bade him farewell； saying that
we would send for my mare。
〃Not so； not so；〃 he answered； 〃you are my guests to…night。 Also； fear
not； Hernan will be away。 He has gone a journey upon some business。〃
As my father hesitated； Marais added： 〃Friend； I pray you to come； for I
have some important words to say to you； which cannot be said here。〃
Then my father gave way； to my delight and relief。 For if he had not；
what chance would there have been of my getting some still more
important words with Marie？ So having collected the geese and the two
falcons； which I proposed to skin for Marie； I was helped into the cart；
and we drove off； reaching Maraisfontein just as night set in。
That evening； after we had eaten； Heer Marais asked my father and myself
to speak with him in the sitting…room。 By an afterthought also； or so
it seemed to me； he told his daughter； who had been clearing away the
dishes and with whom as yet I had found no opportunity to talk； to come
in with us and close the door behind her。
When all were seated and we men had lit our pipes； though apprehension
of what was to follow quite took away my taste for smoking； Marais spoke
in English； which he knew to a certain extent。 This was for the benefit
of my father； who made it a point of honour not to understand Dutch；
although he would answer Marais in that language when _he_ pretended not
to understand English。 To me he spoke in Dutch； and occasionally in
French to Marie。 It was a most curious and polyglot conversation。
〃Young Allan；〃 he said； 〃and you； daughter Marie； I have heard stories
concerning you that； although I never gave you leave to 'opsit'〃 （that
is； to sit up alone at night with candles； according to the Boer fashion
between those who are courting）； 〃you have been making love to each
other。〃
〃That is true； mynheer；〃 I said。 〃I only waited an opportunity to tell
you that we plighted our troth during the attack of the Quabies on this
house。〃
〃Allemachte！ Allan； a strange time to choose；〃 answered Marais； pulling
at his beard；〃 the troth that is plighted in blood is apt to end in
blood。〃
〃A vain superstition to which I cannot consent；〃 interrupted my father。
〃Perhaps so；〃 I answered。 〃I know not； God alone knows。 I only know
that we plighted our troth when we thought ourselves about to die； and
that we shall keep that troth till death ends it。〃
〃Yes； my father；〃 added Marie； leaning forward across the scored
yellow…wood table； her chin resting on her hand and her dark； buck…like
eyes looking him in the face。 〃Yes； my father； that is so； as I have
told you already。〃
〃And I tell you； Marie； what I have told you already； and you too；
Allan； that this thing may not be；〃 answered Marais； hitting the table
with his fist。 〃I have nothing to say against you； Allan； indeed； I
honour you； and you have done me a mighty service； but it may not be。〃
〃Why not； mynheer？〃 I asked。
〃For three reasons； Allan； each of which is final。 You are English； and
I do not wish my daughter to marry an Englishman； that is the first。
You are poor； which is no discredit to you； and since I am now ruined my
daughter cannot marry a poor man； that is the second。 You live here；
and my daughter and I are leaving this country； therefore you cannot
marry her； that is the third；〃 and he paused。
〃Is there not a fourth；〃 I asked； 〃which is the real reason？ Namely；
that you wish your daughter to marry someone else。〃
〃Yes； Allan； since you force me to it； there is a fourth。 I have
affianced my daughter to her cousin； Hernando Pereira； a man of
substance and full age； no lad； but one who knows his own mind and can
support a wife。〃
〃I understand；〃 I answered calmly； although within my heart a very hell
was raging。 〃But tell me； mynheer； has Marie affianced herselfor
perhaps she will answer with her own lips？〃
〃Yes； Allan；〃 replied Marie in her quiet fashion； 〃I have affianced
myselfto you and no other man。〃
〃You hear； mynheer；〃 I said to Marais。
Then he broke out in his usual excitable manner。 He stormed； he argued；
he rated us both。 He said that he would never allow it； that first he
would see his daughter in her grave。 That I had abused his confidence
and violated his hospitality； that he would shoot me if I came near his
girl。 That she was a minor； and according to the law he could dispose
of her in marriage。 That she must accompany him whither he was going；
that certainly I should not do so； and much more of the same sort。
When at last he had tired himself out and smashed his favourite pipe
upon the table； Marie spoke； saying：
〃My father； you know that I love you dearly； for since my mother's death
we have been everything to each other； have we not？〃
〃Surely； Marie； you are my life； and more than my life。〃
〃Very well； my father。 That being so； I acknowledge your authority over
me； whatever the law may say。 I acknowledge that you have the right to
forbid me to marry Allan； and if you do forbid mewhile I am under age；
at any rateI shall not marry him because of my duty to you。
But〃here she rose and looked him full in the eyes； and oh！ how stately
she seemed at that moment in her simple strength and youthful
grace！〃there is one thing； my father； that I do not acknowledgeyour
right to force me to marry any other man。 As a woman with power over
herself； I deny that right； and much as it pains me； my father； to
refuse you anything； I say that first I will die。 To Allan here I have
given myself for good or for evil； and if I may not marry Allan； I will
go to the grave unwed。 If my words hurt you； I pray you to pardon me；
but at the same time to remember that they are my words； which cannot be
altered。〃
Marais looked at his daughter； and his daughter looked at Marais。 At
first I thought that he was about to curse her； but if this were so；
something in her eyes seemed to change his mind； for all he said was：
〃Intractable； like the rest of your race！ Well； Fate may lead those who
cannot be driven； and this matter I leave in the hands of Fate。 While
you are under agethat is； for two years or moreyou may not marry
without my consent； and have just promised not to do so。 Presently we
trek from this country into far…off lands。 Who knows what may happen
there？〃
〃Yes；〃 said my father in a solemn voice； speaking for the first time；
〃who knows except God； Who governs all things； and will settle these
matters according to His will； Henri Marais？ Listen；〃 he went on after
a pause； for Marais made no answer； but sat himself down and stared
gloomily at the table。 〃You do not wish my son to marry your daughter
for various reasons； of which one is that you think him poor and a
richer suitor has offered himself after a reverse of fortune has made
_you_ poor。 Another and a greater； the true reason； is his English
blood； which you hate so much that； although by God's mercy he saved her
life； you do not desire that he should share her life。 Is it not true？〃
〃Yes； it is true； Mynheer Quatermain。 You English are bullies and
cheats；〃 he answered excitedly。
〃And so you would give your daughter to one who has shown himself humble
and upright； to that good hater of the English and plotter against his
King； Hernando Pereira； whom you love because he alone is left of your
ancient race。〃
Remembering the incident of the afternoon； this sarcasm reduced Marais
to silence。
〃Well；〃 went on my father； 〃although I am fond of Marie； and know her to
be a sweet and noble…hearted girl； neither do I wish that she should
marry my son。 I would see him wed to some English woman； and not
dragged into the net of the Boers and their plottings。 Still； it is
plain that these two love each other with heart and soul； as doubtless
it has been decreed that they should love。 This being so； I tell you
that to separate them and force another marriage upon one of them is a
crime before God； of which； I am sure； He will take note and pay it back
to you。 Strange things may happen in those lands whither you go； Henri
Marais。 Will you not； then； be content to leave your child in safe
keeping？〃
〃Never！〃 shouted Marais。 〃She shall accompany me to a new home； which
is not under the shadow of your accursed British flag。〃
〃Then I have no more to say。 On your head be it here and hereafter；〃
replied my father solemnly。
Now unable to control myself any longer I broke in：
〃But I have； mynheer。 To separate Mari