He has forbidden me to think of you, and ordered that
I marry Ramon. Sick or well, living or dead, I must marry him."
"I'm hanged if you do!"
"It is those miserable politics again. If I do not obey, my father
cannot be President, do you see?" Pausing an instant to master her
agitation, she hurried on. "To be President means a great deal to
him and to our family; it is the greatest honor that has ever come
to a Garavel. Senor Alfarez is terribly angry that I refused to
marry his son, to whom since I was a little child I have been
engaged. Ramon also is furious; he threatened to kill himself. So,
it comes to this then: if I will not bind myself to the agreement,
Senor Alfarez will contest the election--I do not know how you say
those things--but my father will be defeated--perhaps he will be
humbled. Many other terrible things which I cannot understand will
happen also. If I agree, then there will be no opposition to his
plans. He will be President, and I will be a grand lady."
"I won't stand for it. They're making you a sacrifice, that's all.
What kind of a father is it who would sell his daughter--"
"No, no! You do not understand. He is proud, he cannot accept
defeat, he would rather give his life than be humiliated.
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