’I am not afraid of doing so, if you mean that.  I cannot bear to give him pain, but this is a matter in which I mean to have my own way.’

‘Mean to have your own way!’ said Lady Cantrip, much surprised by the determined tone of the young lady.

’Certainly I do.  I want you to understand so much!  I suppose papa can keep us from marrying for ever and ever if he pleases, but he never will make me say that I will give up Mr Tregear.  And if he does not yield I shall think him cruel.  Why should he wish to make me unhappy all my life?’

‘He certainly does not wish that, my dear.’

‘But he will do it.’

‘I cannot go against your father, Mary.’

’No, I suppose not.  I shall write to Mr Tregear, and then I will show you what I have written.  Papa shall see it too if he pleases.  I will do nothing secret, but I will never give up Mr Tregear.’

Lord Cantrip came down to Richmond that evening, and his wife told him that in her opinion it would be best that the Duke should allow the young people to marry, and should give them money enough to live upon.  ‘Is not that a strong order?’ asked the Earl.  The Countess acknowledged that it was a ‘strong order’, but suggested that for the happiness of them all it might as well be done at first as last.

The next morning Lady Mary showed her a copy of the reply which she had already sent to her lover.

’Dear frank,

’You may be quite sure that I shall never give you up.  I will not write more at present because papa does not wish me to do so.  I shall show papa your letter and my answer.

’Your own most affectionate
Mary.’

‘Has it gone?’ asked the Countess.

‘I put it myself into the pillar letter-box.’  Then Lady Cantrip felt that she had to deal with a very self-willed young lady indeed.

That afternoon Lady Cantrip asked Lady Mary whether she might be allowed to take the two letters up to town with the express purpose of showing them to the Duke.  ‘Oh yes,’ said Mary.  ’I think it would be so much the best.  Give papa my kindest love, and tell him from me that if he wants to make his poor little girl happy he will forgive her and be kind to her in all this.’  Then the Countess made some attempts to argue the matter.  There were proprieties!  High rank might be a blessing or might be the reverse—­as people thought of it;—­but all men acknowledged that much was due to it.  ‘Noblesse oblige.’  It was often the case in life that women were called upon by circumstances to sacrifice their inclinations!  What right had a gentleman to talk of marriage who had no means?  These things she said and very many more, but it was to no purpose.  The young lady asserted that as the gentleman was a gentleman there need be no question as to rank, and that in regard to money there need be no difficulty if one of them had sufficient.  ’But you have none