Chapter 23

           

           PrinceAndrewneededhisfather’sconsenttohismarriage,andtoobtainthishestartedforthecountrynextday.

           Hisfatherreceivedhisson’scommunicationwithexternalcomposure,butinwardwrath.Hecouldnotcomprehendhowanyonecouldwishtoalterhislifeorintroduceanythingnewintoit,whenhisownlifewasalreadyending.“IfonlytheywouldletmeendmydaysasIwantto,”thoughttheoldman,“thentheymightdoastheyplease.”Withhisson,however,heemployedthediplomacyhereservedforimportantoccasionsand,adoptingaquiettone,discussedthewholematter.

           Inthefirstplacethemarriagewasnotabrilliantoneasregardsbirth,wealth,orrank.Secondly,PrinceAndrewwasnolongerasyoungashehadbeenandhishealthwaspoor(theoldmanlaidspecialstressonthis),whileshewasveryyoung.Thirdly,hehadasonwhomitwouldbeapitytoentrusttoachitofagirl.“Fourthlyandfinally,”thefathersaid,lookingironicallyathisson,“Ibegyoutoputitoffforayear:goabroad,takeacure,lookoutasyouwantedtoforaGermantutorforPrinceNicholas.Thenifyourloveorpassionorobstinacy—asyouplease—isstillasgreat,marry!Andthat’smylastwordonit.Mind,thelast...”concludedtheprince,inatonewhichshowedthatnothingwouldmakehimalterhisdecision.

           PrinceAndrewsawclearlythattheoldmanhopedthathisfeelings,orhisfiancée’s,wouldnotstandayear’stest,orthathe(theoldprincehimself)woulddiebeforethen,andhedecidedtoconformtohisfather’swish—topropose,andpostponetheweddingforayear.

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