But her father will never consent. He had no hand in yesterday's
business, and I wonder at that too, for he's mighty apt at all such
scrapes; and he will not therefore be so very ready to perceive the
necessity of my flight--certainly not of hers, she being his only child;
and, though a tough old sort of chap, he's main fond of her."
"See him about it at once, then; and, if he does not consent, the only
difficulty is in the delay and further protraction of your union. It
would be very easy, when you are once well settled, to claim her as your
wife."
"That's all very true and very reasonable, 'squire; but it's rather
hard, this waiting. Here, for five years, have I been playing this sort
of game, and it goes greatly against the grain to have to begin anew and
in a new place. But here's where the old buck lives. It's quite a snug
farm, as you may see. He's pretty well off, and, by one little end or
the other, contrives to make it look smarter and smarter every year; but
then he's just as close as a corkscrew, and quite mean in his ways.
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