"
"My child," said the major, "Clive would not feel he had the right
to tell me such things about his friend."
"Not even when the friend wants to marry his cousin?"
"But such questions are not asked, my daughter."
"Papa, I have thought this matter out carefully, and I hava
something definite to propose to you. I have no idea of stopping
with what Clive Chilton may or may not see fit to tell about his
chum. I want _you_ to go to Roger."
Major Castleman's face wore a blank stare.
"If he's going to marry your daughter, you have the right to ask
about his past. What I want you to tell him is that you will get the
name of a reputable specialist in these diseases, and that before he
can have your daughter he must present you with a letter from this
man, to the effect that he is fit to marry."
The poor major was all but speechless. "My child, who ever heard of
such a proposition?"
"I don't know that any one ever did, papa. But it seems to me time
they should begin to hear of it; and I don't see who can have a
better right to take the first step than you and I, who have paid
such a dreadful price for our neglect."
Sylvia had been prepared for opposition--the instinctive opposition
which men manifest to having this embarrassing subject dragged out
into the light of day.
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