"I suspect that it is the principal thing," remarked the count.

"Very good; he asked you to marry him.

He has my full authority to do so.

What then ?" "You are my father," answered Hedwig, standing like a statue before him, "and you have the right to offer me whom you please for a husband, but you have no authority to allow me to be wantonly insulted." "I think that you are out of your mind," said the count, with imperturbable equanimity.

"You grant that I may propose a suitor to you, and you call it a wanton insult when that suitor respectfully asks the honour of your hand, merely because he is not young enough to suit your romantic tastes, which have been fostered by this wretched southern air.