BABRABHK Clearly were we steam to good faith, and T did not think the engagement routd be broken...
It was on the next afternoon, as Dr. Mackenzie was nearing his own door, that he caught sight of Peter Wong bearing straight down on him.
"Things are going splendidly, doctor,"
exultingly. "T've seen a house, gly.
se one of course, that will just suit Quite handy to the Mission, and yet not too far away from my own family. I daughter, you kew, Shey: will soon got mean them to take Maggie in as a regular
over her appearance. Do you think T ought to make her wear Chinese dress at once, and eat our chow-chow, which I of course like much better than foreign food? Or should T wait awhile?"
"*Miss Brown must never wear Chinese dress. And I don't think she would like your chow-chow," said the doctor slowly.
"Not as Miss Brown, perhaps, but as Mrs. Wong? I shall have the deciding then, you may be sure! At any rate, don't mean to let Mrs. Brown interfere my household. I shall do just what Tlike with my own wife. We've passed the house, doctor! Let us go back."
For Dr. Mackenzie had caught hold of Peter's arm with an iron grip, and was hurrying him on.
"You are making me out of breath, doctor. Tean't walk as fast as you. Do let me go!"
And the doctor did so. What was more, he stopped suddenly short. They were well beyond the house now, and right in the teeth of the wind, which was sweeping straight down the river. On one side frowned the city wall, just touched with brown here and there where the dead creepers still clung to it. Peter Wong shivered, in spite of his warm great coat, but his companion, without his usual rusty cloak, did not seem to feel the wind.
"Wong," he said solemnly, "my dear Peter, you must give up this marriage. It can't take place."
Peter Wong stared at him in most utter-ably blank astonishment. Then, thinking it vas probably a joke, he began to Tough.
"Don't laugh," said "Dr. Mackenzie carestly. This is far too serious to be laughed about. I repeat it: you must give up this marriage."
He was so evidently serious that Peter's tone at once changed.
"Because you are not suited to each otter fellows face.
it look of relief came into the youn;
"Oh, is that all? I thought it was something more, perhaps. If that's all—"
"It's quite enough," interrupted the doctor. "I won't allow this engagement to go any farther. You are not fit for her, nor—"
"These are all questions," broke in Peter hastily, which cannot come up now. The marriage is arranged, the day is fixed. Icannot draw back. I should lose face entirely among my own people, T cannot think of it."
His words roused Dr. Mackenzie's slumbering wrath to an uncontrollable pitch, And so, to save your face—not for any other reason, you would tie her to. you for life! Monstrous, unchristian, unmanly in you, Peter! I tell you, you shan't marry her, and I herewith break off the match He was whitewithanger, and out of breath with the rapidity of his words. The wind caught his long coat-tails and whirled them wildly round his shoulders, where they seemed to meet and tangle in his ragged beard, flying loose all round his face, He looked unearthly to Peter, already nearly reduced to imbecility by cold and terror.
"You are not the one to decide, Dr. Mackenzie. You are not Maggie's father."
Tt was Peter's first act of rebellion, and it was made at a most injudicious moment.
"No, Tam nother father," answered the doctor, suddenly turning scarlet. "But Tapeak with his knowledge, and approval Will you come and see if this is not the case Peter would fain have resisted, apologised, taken back all he had said, left all to Dr. Mackenzie's clearer judgment. Too late. The doctor had clutched him again, and dragged him back to the house, into his own study, whither the luckless Mr, Brown had retired to compose his next Supday's sermon in peace. The sound of a jingling piano, accompanied by a voice resembling a Jew's harp, warned them that Mrs. Brown was within reasonable distance. Dr. Mackenzie closed and locked the door.
"Mr. Brown," he began before Peter Wong had time to expostulate. " T have waken off Maggie's engagement with Mr. Wong. Do you agree es," answered the luckless father, without even looking round. 'I agree to whatever you think right and propery Dr.
A faint gleam of triumph lighted up the doctor's eye as he looked at Peter. jut it died out as suddenly as it had come.
The young man stood motionless for a moment. His hands certainly trembled a little as they twisted round and round his clerical hat, but otherwise he betrayed no emotion.
"Tsthat your final decision, Mr, Brown?"
There was so much of dignity in Peter's voice, that Mr, Brown fole compelled to turn round as he answered think so, at least—"
"Yes, yes," broke in Dr. Mackenzie. "Believe me, Peter, it is the best thing for everybody concerned. Miss Brown doesn't love you, and you are not fit for her. Ti make it up to you in some other way But he had not got to the end of his speech before Peter Wong, unlocking the door, had quietly hidden Me Brown good afternoon," and was gone.
The two missionaries stared at each other.
hope it's all right, doctor," said Mr. Brown peevishly, "I hope he won't go and get up some grand revenge, and burn the louse about our ears, or some such thing. What on earth made him take it so quietly?"
"He is a Christian," said the doctor gravely, "and has taken it ina Christian
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.