Page:Arminell, a social romance (1896).djvu/221

Rh "I know, papa, what you want; or rather what you have been driven to. My lady has been peaching of me, and has constituted you her executioner."

"Arminell, I dislike this tone. You forget that courtesy which is due to a father."

"Exacted of a father," corrected the girl.

"And due to him as a father," said Lord Lamerton gravely. His cigar was out. He struck a fusee and lighted it again. His hand was not steady; Arminell looked in his face, illumined by the fusee, and her heart relented. That was a good, kind face, a guileless face, very honest, and she could see by the flare of the match that it was troubled. But her perverse mood gained the upper hand again in a moment. She possessed the feminine instinct in dealing with men, when threatened, to attack, not wait to be attacked.

"I do not think it fair, papa, that my lady should hide herself behind you, and thrust you forward, as besiegers attack a fortress, from behind a screen."

"You are utterly mistaken, Arminell, if you imagine that your mother—your step-mother—has intentions of attacking you. Her heart overflows with kindness towards you, the warmest kindness."

"Papa, when Vesuvius is in eruption, the villagers in proximity pray to heaven to divert into the sea, anywhere but towards them, the warm gush of incandescent lava."

"Arminell," said her father, "you pain me inexpressibly. I suppose that it is inevitable that a daughter by a first wife should not agree thoroughly with her father's second choice; but, 'pon my soul, I can see no occasion for you to take up arms against your step-mother; she has been too forbearing with you. She is the kindest, most considerate and conscientious of women."

"You may spare me the enumeration of her good qualities, papa: I am sure she is a paragon in your eyes,