I shall still hope that you may
change your mind. I shall not yet abandon hope. Good-bye."
She touched his hand, and then the Squire offering him his arm, he
went down the steps to his carriage.
"I hope, Mr. de la Molle," he said, "that bad as things look for me,
if they should take a turn I shall have your support."
"My dear sir," answered the Squire, "I tell you frankly that I wish my
daughter would marry you. As I said before, it would for obvious
reasons be desirable. But Ida is not like ordinary women. When she
sets her mind upon a thing she sets it like a flint. Times may change,
however, and that is all I can say. Yes, if I were you, I should
remember that this is a changeable world, and women are the most
changeable things in it."
When the carriage was gone he re-entered the vestibule. Ida, who was
going away much disturbed in mind, saw him come, and knew from the
expression of his face that there would be trouble. With
characteristic courage she turned, determined to brave it out.
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE SQUIRE SPEAKS HIS MIND
For a minute or more her father fidgeted about, moving his papers
backwards and forwards but saying nothing.
At last he spoke. "You have taken a most serious and painful step,
Ida," he said.
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