Obstinate as the admiral was by nature, strongly as he felt the
objections which attached to his nephew's contemplated alliance, he
recoiled in spite of himself, as he paced the room and saw the facts on
either side immovably staring him in the face.
"Are you engaged to Miss Vanstone?" he asked, suddenly.
"No, sir," replied George. "I thought it due to your uniform kindness to
me to speak to you on the subject first."
"Much obliged, I'm sure. And you have put off speaking to me to the last
moment, just as you put off everything else. Do you think Miss Vanstone
will say yes when you ask her?"
George hesitated.
"The devil take your modesty!" shouted the admiral. "This is not a time
for modesty; this is a time for speaking out. Will she or won't she?"
"I think she will, sir."
The admiral laughed sardonically, and took another turn in the room.
He suddenly stopped, put his hands in his pockets, and stood still in
a corner, deep in thought. After an interval of a few minutes, his
face cleared a little; it brightened with the dawning of a new idea.
He walked round briskly to George's side of the fire, and laid his hand
kindly on his nephew's shoulder.
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