‘He wouldn’t be a gentleman,’ said Silverbridge.

‘That is a word of which I don’t quite know the meaning.’

‘I do,’ said Silverbridge confidently.

’But you could not define it.  If a man be well educated, and can keep a good house over his head, perhaps you may call him a gentleman.  But there are many such with whom your father would not wish to be so closely connected to as you propose.’

‘But I may have your sanction?’ Mr Boncassen again took off his hat and walked along thoughtfully.  ’I hope you don’t object to me personally.’

’My dear young lord, your father has gone out of his way to be civil to me.  Am I to return his courtesy by bringing a great trouble upon him?’

‘He seems to be very fond of Miss Boncassen.’

’Will he continue to be fond of her when he has heard this?  What does Isabel say?’

‘She says the same as you, of course.’

’Why of course;—­except that it is evident to you as it is to me that she could not with propriety say anything else.’

‘I think she would,—­would like it, you know.’

‘She would like to be your wife!’

‘Well;—­yes.  If it were all serene, I think she would consent.’

’I daresay she would consent,—­if it were all serene.  Why should she not? do not try her too hard, Lord Silverbridge.  You say you love her?’

‘I do indeed.’

’Then think of the position in which you are placing her.  You are struggling to win her heart.’  Silverbridge as he heard this assured himself that there was no need for any further struggling in that direction.  ’Perhaps you have won it.  Yet she may feel that she cannot become your wife.  She may well say to herself that this which is offered to her is so great, that she does not know how to refuse it; and may yet have to say, at the same time, that she cannot accept it without disgrace.  You would not put one that you love into such a position?’

’As for disgrace,—­that is nonsense.  I beg your pardon, Mr Boncassen.’

’Would it be no disgrace that she should be known here, in England, to be your wife, and that none of those of your rank,—­of what would then be her own rank,—­should welcome her into the new world?’

‘That would be out of the question.’

’If your own father refused to welcome her, would not others follow suit?’

‘You don’t know my father.’

‘You seem to know him well enough to fear that he would object.’

‘Yes;—­that is true.’

‘What more do I want to know?’

’If she were once my wife he would not reject her.  Of all human beings he is in truth the kindest and most affectionate.’

’And therefore you would try him after this fashion?  No, my lord, I cannot see my way through these difficulties.  You can say what you please to him as to your own wishes.  But you must not tell him that you have any sanction from me.’