“But I have not the slightest partiality for him,” said Mary, colouring.  “It cannot be expected that I should, when I have not been half a dozen time in his company.  I must be allowed some time before I can consent even to consider—­”

“I don’t mean that you are to marry to-morrow.  It may probably be six weeks or two months before everything can be arranged.”

Mary saw she must speak boldly.

“But I must be allowed much longer time before I can consider myself as sufficiently acquainted with Mr. Downe Wright to think of him at all in that light.  And even then—­he may be very amiable, and yet”—­hesitating—­ “I may not be able to love him as I ought.”

“Love!” exclaimed Lady Juliana, her eyes sparkling with anger; “I desire I may never hear that word again from any daughter of mine.  I am determined I shall have no disgraceful love-marriages in the family.  No well-educated young woman ever thinks of such a thing now, and I won’t hear a syllable on the subject.”

“I shall never marry anybody, I am sure, that you disapprove of,” said Mary timidly.

“No; I shall take care of that.  I consider it the duty of parents to establish their children properly in the world, without any regard to their ideas on the subject.  I think I must be rather a better judge of the matter than you can possibly be, and I shall therefore make a point of your forming what I consider a proper alliance.  Your sister, I know, won’t hesitate to sacrifice her own affections to please me.  She was most excessively attached to Lord Lindore—­everybody knew that; but she is convinced of the propriety of preferring the Duke of Altamont, and won’t hesitate in sacrificing her own feelings to mine.  But indeed she has ever been all that I could wish—­so perfectly beautiful, and, at the same time, so excessively affectionate and obedient.  She approves entirely of your marriage with Mr. Downe Wright, as, indeed, all your friends do.  I don’t include your friend Lady Emily in that number.  I look upon her as a most improper companion for you; and the sooner you are separated from her the better.  So now good-bye for the present.  You have only to behave as other young ladies do upon those occasions, which, by-the-bye, is generally to give as much trouble to their friends as they possibly can.”

There are some people who, furious themselves at opposition, cannot understand the possibility of others being equally firm and decided in a gentle manner.  Lady Juliana was one of those who always expect to carry their point by a raised voice and sparkling eyes; and it was with difficulty Mary, with her timid air and gentle accents, could convince her that she was determined to judge for herself in a matter in which her happiness was so deeply involved.  When at last brought to comprehend it, her Ladyship’s indignation knew no bounds; and Mary was accused in the same breath with having formed some low connection in Scotland, and of seeking to supplant her sister by aspiring to the Duke of Altamont.  And at length the conference ended pretty much where it began—­Lady Juliana resolved that her daughter should marry to please her, and her daughter equally resolved not to be driven into an engagement from which her heart recoiled.