“The supposition is impossible, therefore unnecessary.”
“If I cannot marry Miss Atheling, I will remain unmarried.”
“That threat is as old as the world; it amounts to nothing.”
“On all public and social questions, I am your obedient son and successor. I claim the right to choose my wife.”
“A man in your position, Piers, has not this privilege. I had not. If I had followed my youthful desires, I should have married an Italian woman. I married, not to please myself, but for the good of Richmoor; and I am glad to-day that I did so. Your duty to Richmoor is first; to yourself, secondary.”
“Have you anything against Miss Atheling?”
“I object to her family–though they are undoubtedly in direct descent from the royal Saxon family of Atheling; I object to her poverty; I object to her taking the place of a young lady who has every desirable qualification for your wife.”
“Is there no way to meet these objections, sir?”
“No way whatever.” At these words the Duke stood painfully up, and said, with angry emphasis, “I will not have this subject mentioned to me again. It is dead. I forbid you to speak of it.” Then he rang the bell for his Secretary, and gave him some orders. Lord Exham leaned against the mantelpiece, lost in sorrowful thought, until the Duke turned to him and said,–
“I am going to ride; will you go with me? There are letters from Wetherell and Lyndhurst to talk over.”