“What is this I hear, Dexie?” she said at last.  “Do you think I am going to allow you to leave the house like this?  You are forgetting that you are still under my authority.”

“But you do not use your authority fairly, mamma.  You have made my life very hard and unhappy since papa died, and permit Gussie to be impudent to me, even when I am doing everything for her comfort.  I would have stayed a few weeks longer, but Gussie has gone too far and made it impossible for me to stay another day, so I am going away to be married.”

“Married!  Dexie, are you crazy?”

“No, I think no one else will think so, when they know that I am exchanging my present life for one so much happier.”

“But, Dexie, I will not allow this!  To be married in such haste, and away from home, without any preparations whatever!  I forbid you to leave the house with such an absurd intention.”

“I am sorry to have to deliberately disobey you, mamma, but I have passed my word and have no wish to take it back.  I admit it would have given me much happiness to have been married from home, but it is doubtful if I could live long enough to earn a wedding, so it is best as it is.”

“And you talk of being married, and your father not dead three months yet!  Oh! you heartless girl!  And you pretended to care so much for him!  You shall not do this shameful thing!  Fancy how people would talk!”

Dexie burst into tears at the mention of her father, and turning to leave the room, she heard Guy’s voice in the hall below.

“Are you nearly ready, my darling?” as she ran down the stairs to meet him.

“All ready, but mamma is not going to let me go without some trouble, Guy.”

“Take me to her at once, dear, and do not be alarmed.  She will not forbid our marriage, so dry those pretty eyes.”

Mrs. Sherwood found she could not talk to this stern-faced man as she did to Dexie.  She felt embarrassed at his replies to her many objections, and the truths that Guy put so plainly she could neither deny nor refute.

“It was Mr. Sherwood’s wish that our marriage should not be delayed,” was his answer to this objection, “and according to Dexie’s wishes it will be strictly private.  As to the unkind remarks which you fear will be made about our rather hasty marriage, I will take it upon myself to silence them, directly they reach my ears, by explaining Dexie’s unpleasant position at home since she has been without her father’s protection.”

Mrs. Sherwood saw it was the best policy to give her sanction to the marriage, seeing she had no power to prevent it; but when she offered, after some hesitation, to give Dexie a sum of money to provide her with an outfit, Guy refused to allow Dexie to accept it.

“It is no matter, mamma,” Dexie said through her tears, for the interview had been most distressing.  “Papa gave me the money he received from his published sketches, so I will do very well.”