spoke, looked full
into his mother's face; and he did so, not as though he were begging
from her a favour, but issuing to her a command. She stood near him,
with one hand on the breakfast-table, gazing at him almost furtively,
not quite daring to meet the full view of his eye. There was only
one thing on earth which Lady Lufton feared, and that was her son's
displeasure. The sun of her earthly heaven shone upon her through the
medium of his existence. If she were driven to quarrel with him, as
some ladies of her acquaintance were driven to quarrel with their
sons, the world to her would be over. Not but what facts might be so
strong as to make it absolutely necessary that she should do this.
As some people resolve that, under certain circumstances, they will
commit suicide, so she could see that, under certain circumstances,
she must consent even to be separated from him. She would not do
wrong,--not that which she knew to be wrong,--even for his sake.
If it were necessary that all her happiness should collapse and be
crushed in ruin around her, she must endure it, and wait God's time
to relieve her from so dark a world. The light of the sun was very
dear to her, but even that might be purchased at too dear a cost.

"I told you before, mother, that my choice was made, and I asked you
then to give your consent; you have now had time to think about it,
and therefore I have come to ask you again. I have reason to know
that there will be no impediment to my marriage if you will frankly
hold out your hand to Lucy."

The matter was altogether in Lady Lufton's hands, but, fond as she
was of power, she absolutely wished that it were not so. Had her son
married without asking her, and then brought Lucy home as his wife,
she would undoubtedly have forgiven him; and much as she might have
disliked the match, she would, ultimately, have embraced the bride.
But now she was compelled to exercise her judgement. If he married
imprudently, it would be her doing. How was she to give her expressed
consent to that which she believed to be wrong? "Do you know anything
against her; any reason why she should not be my wife?" continued he.

"If you mean as regards her moral conduct, certainly not," said Lady
Lufton. "But I could say as much as that in favour of a great many
young ladies whom I should regard as very ill suited for such a
marriage."

"Yes; some might be vulgar, some might be ill-tempered, some might be
ugly; others might be