‘I think your papa is right,’ said Lady Rowley.

’Of course I am right.  It is out of the question; and so Nora must be told.’  He had as yet heard nothing about Mr Glascock.  Had that misfortune been communicated to him his cup would indeed have been filled with sorrow to overflowing.

In the evening Nora was closeted with her father.  ’Nora, my dear, you must understand, once and for all, that this cannot be,’ said Sir Marmaduke.  The Governor, when he was not disturbed by outward circumstances, could assume a good deal of personal dignity, and could speak, especially to his children, with an air of indisputable authority.

‘What can’t be, papa?’ said Nora.

Sir Marmaduke perceived at once that there was no indication of obedience in his daughter’s voice, and he prepared himself for battle.  He conceived himself to be very strong, and thought that his objections were so well founded that no one would deny their truth and that his daughter had not a leg to stand on.  ’This, that your mamma tells me of about Mr Stanbury.  Do you know, my dear, that he has not a shilling in the world?’

‘I know that he has no fortune, papa if you mean that.’

’And no profession either—­nothing that can be called a profession.  I do not wish to argue it, my dear, because there is no room for argument.  The whole thing is preposterous.  I cannot but think ill of him for having proposed it to you; for he must have known, must have known, that a young man without an income cannot be accepted as a fitting suitor for a gentleman’s daughter.  As for yourself, I can only hope that you will get the little idea out of your head very quickly; but mamma will speak to you about that.  What I want you to understand from me is this, that there must be an end to it.’

Nora listened to this speech in perfect silence, standing before her father, and waiting patiently till the last word of it should be pronounced.  Even when he had finished she still paused before she answered him.  ‘Papa,’ she said at last and hesitated again before she went on.

‘Well, my dear.’

‘I can not give it up.’

‘But you must give it up.’

’No, papa.  I would do anything I could for you and mamma, but that is impossible.’

‘Why is it impossible?’

‘Because I love him so dearly.’

’That is nonsense.  That is what all girls say when they choose to run against their parents.  I tell you that it shall be given up.  I will not have him here.  I forbid you to see him.  It is quite out of the question that you should marry such a man.  I do hope, Nora, that you are not going to add to mamma’s difficulties and mine by being obstinate and disobedient.’  He paused a moment, and then added, ’I do not think that there is anything more to be said.’

‘Papa.’

’My dear, I think you had better say nothing further about it.  If you cannot bring yourself at the present moment to promise that there shall be an end of it, you had better hold your tongue.  You have heard what I say, and you have heard what mamma says.  I do not for a moment suppose that you dream of carrying on a communication with this gentleman in opposition to our wishes.’