His bald statement made Richard look curiously
at him. He never for a moment believed him to mean what the words
implied. So he only smiled and bowed.
"Nay, thou needn't laugh! It's no laughing matter. I'll tell thee all
about it."
In the squire's way of telling, the tale was a very short one. The
facts were stated in a few sentences, without comment. They amazed
Richard, and left him for a moment speechless.
"Well, what does ta say?"
"I will be as frank as you have been, uncle. I cannot possibly accept
your offer."
"Thou'lt hev a reason?"
"More than one. First, I would not change my name. I should feel as
if I had slandered the Fontaines. My father was a brave soldier; my
grandfather was a missionary, whose praise is in all our churches.
I need go no farther back. If I had been born 'Hallam' I would have
stood by the name just as firmly."
"Then, thou wilt hev to give up Elizabeth. Succession must go in her
children and in her name."
"Miss Hallam and you accepted me as Richard Fontaine. Have I not the
right to expect that both she and you will keep your word with me?"
"Thou forgets, Richard. Her duty to her father and to her ancestors
stands before thee. If thy duty to thine will not let thee give up
thy name, hers may well be due to home and lands that hold her by a
tenure o' a thousand years.
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