ived
there three centuries and more. He had always spoken his mind freely to
May on the subject of new-comers and interlopers. He had declared that
no matter what his neighbours might do, not one of them should ever
cross his threshold; he had apparently despised these new rich from the
bottom of his heart. It seemed only the other day that Sir George had
spoken most contemptuously about Raymond Copley. A few months before
and he would have laughed to scorn any suggestion on Copley's part to
become one of the family.

"We need not envy them, my dear," Sir George had said over and over
again. "After all, money is not everything. Of course, one has to be
agreeable to these people in the hunting-field and when one meets them
at neighbouring houses, but, thank goodness, we need not go farther than
that. You won't have much when I die, but so long as you marry the right
sort of man I shall be quite content with your choice. I can trust you,
I know."

These recollections crowded into May's mind as she stood face to face
with her father. It struck her almost with painful force that she was
making his acquaintance for the first time. This was another Sir George
Haredale, of whom she had not the slightest knowledge. He looked hard
and sullen, and met her eye with difficulty. May hoped he would have the
grace to be ashamed of himself, that this was an outburst for which he
would apologize presently.

"Do you really know what you are saying?" she murmured. "I hope I have
not mistaken you, father."

"You have not mistaken me at all," Sir George said sullenly.

"Then I am to understand that it is your wish that I should become the
wife of Mr. Raymond Copley?"

"I thought I had made it quite plain."

"You are so set upon this match that unless I marry this man I am no
longer to consider Haredale Park as my home."

Sir George nodded. He had not the courage to put it as plainly as that.

"I will try to be calm," May went on. "But this has been a terrible blow
to me. Even now I can hardly believe my ears. Do you mean to say that if
I refuse Mr. Copley I am to be turned out of house and home?"

"Don't be dramatic," Sir George interrupted.

"I didn't know that I was. I only want to have a clear understanding.
Oh, the thing is monstrous. You cannot realize what you are saying. If
you have no sort of feeling for yourself or me, just try to imagine what
our friends will say. We know many people who would decline to be on
visiti