"My own, of course," replied the young man.
"And what is your own?" asked his brother.
"Forbear! forbear!" shrieked Lady Coldenham.
"Forbear!--Have you forborne?" said her son, sternly; and then, turning to Margaret, he took her hand kindly, saying, "Margaret, my dear cousin, I ask you, shall this go on? I tell you, you are in no degree bound to that young man; that he is not what he seems; that he stands before you there, a lie. Speak one word, and I will end it all. I tell you, you are not bound to him."
"I am bound by my promise to my father," replied Margaret, in a low, still, solemn voice.
Lord Woodhall's face had been becoming redder and more red; and as his daughter answered, he exclaimed, "And I say she shall marry him, be he who or what he may;" and he added a fearful oath.
"Well, then, without there!" cried Lord Coldenham, raising his voice high, and the door was immediately partly opened.
"You can not go in there, sir," said a voice, in quick accents, without; "we are ordered to keep every one out but the family."
"Out of my way, knaves!" said a loud, rich, powerful voice, which echoed round and round the room. "Learn that I am master here!" and, at the same moment, the door flew wide open, and two of Lady Coldenham's servants were cast headlong into the room.
Following them, with a firm, calm step, and a brow stern and gloomy, came a man of some sixty years of age, above the ordinary height, powerful in frame, and dignified in carriage. He was richly though somewhat darkly attired, and in his hand he carried a large roll of paper.