"Don’t be harsh, grandfather--don’t be brutal to your only grandchild," I sobbed.
"Behave yourself, then. When you take to singing in public it’s about time I spoke out."
We got home somehow, and never returned to the subject. He did not desire to be reminded of his poetry, and therefore was careful not to allude to my passing indisposition.
But I never hesitated to speak on the subject of poor Phyllis. I implored him, by everything that was sacred, to abandon this undertaking. Each day throughout that week I attacked him, until in sheer despair and rage he would take his hat and fly from the house. But nothing availed--grandfather would not alter his intention; and I therefore determined to forbid the banns. The thought was naturally very distasteful to me, but I could see no alternative. Grandpapa, never dreaming of such a thing, rowed up the river as usual on the following Sunday, and I went to St. Jude’s.
In due course the minister published the banns of marriage "between Daniel Dolphin, of this parish, bachelor, and Phyllis Rose, of"--somewhere else, I forget the name of the place--"spinster." It was for the third and last time of asking.
I got up, grasped the pew in front of me, and exclaimed:
"This--this mustn’t go on. I forbid the banns!"
"Which?" asked the minister. He had read out a string of names.
"Those between my grand--between Daniel Dolphin and Phyllis Rose."
"Will the individual who has forbidden these banns of marriage meet me in the vestry at the end of the service?" said the clergyman. Then he proceeded.
In the vestry he asked me for particulars.
"In the first place," I answered, "Mr. Dolphin is not a bachelor at all. He is married. He has been married three times."
"D’ you mean to say that mere boy’s been married three times?"
"Oh, no--the last died sixty years ago--at least--that is----"
"Woman," said the pastor sternly, "what do you mean? Mr. Dolphin came to see me himself. He is twenty, so he says, but does not look that. You have told me a transparent lie. Do you know Mr. Dolphin?"
The Vicar looked round to see if the coast was clear. He prepared to escape if I should grow violent. His manner instantly changed.
"Keep cool, dear madam. I quite understand. Let me get you a glass of water to drink."