e 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 at 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
attempt 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 but what your father
may give you," said Lady Cantrip. "Papa can give it us without any
trouble," said Lady Mary. This child had a clear idea of what she
thought to be her own rights. Being the child of rich parents she
had the right to money. Being a woman she had a right to a husband.
Having been born free she had a right to choose one for herself.
Having had a man's love given to her she had a right to keep it.
"One doesn't know which she is most like, her father or her mother,"
Lady Cantrip said afterwards to her husband. "She has his cool
determination, and her hot-headed obstinacy."

She did show the letters to th