“It is by no means improbable that old Lobbs would have carried his threat into execution, in the excess of his rage, if his arm had not been stayed by a very unexpected apparition: to wit, the male cousin, who, stepping out of his closet, and walking up to old Lobbs, said⁠—

“ ‘I cannot allow this harmless person, Sir, who has been asked here, in some girlish frolic, to take upon himself, in a very noble manner, the fault (if fault it is) which I am guilty of, and am ready to avow. I love your daughter, sir; and I came here for the purpose of meeting her.’

“Old Lobbs opened his eyes very wide at this, but not wider than Nathaniel Pipkin.

“ ‘You did?’ said Lobbs, at last finding breath to speak.

“ ‘I did.’

“ ‘And I forbade you this house, long ago.’