"'It, perhaps, ought to be added that the personal American alliance which the Duke has recently made may account in some degree for his ardor.'"
When she came to the last paragraph of this editorial, the tone of her voice underwent a perceptible change.
"I should have imagined," she said, "that a 'personal alliance' would be more seriously regarded in England. I have been told that a marriage is considered in this island to be 'a great hereditary trust in perpetuity.' Do I quote accurately?"
The bronzed man, in his gray tweeds, watching her over the table, gave no sign.
"To the letter," he said. "It is so considered."
"And is it not considered," she continued, "that against the great duties of this trust no mere 'personal inclination' ought to stand?"
"Well," said the Duke, "I should not hold that rule to be always without an exception."
"Really!" she said. "But I suppose it is always the case in England that, when a marriage is being arranged, one ought to follow the direction of one's family, as, for instance, a prince, called to rule a hereditary kingdom, ought to hear his parliament."
"That," said the Duke, "is always the case."
"Always?" There was now another note in her voice.