"Of course that old-fashioned formality would in itself charm Gregory.
He is very conventional. But I do hope, my dear Mercedes, that you will
think it over a little before giving your consent. It is really a most
unsuitable match. Karen's feelings are, evidently, not at all deeply
engaged and with Gregory it must be a momentary infatuation. He will get
over it in time and thank you for saving him; and Karen will marry Herr
Lippheim, as you hoped she would."

"Now upon my word, my Scrotton," said Madame von Marwitz in a manner as
near insolence as its grace permitted, "I do not follow you. A
barrister, a dingy little London barrister, to marry my ward? You call
that an unsuitable marriage? I protest that I do not follow you and I
assert, to the contrary, that he has played his cards well. Who is he? A
nobody. You speak of your county families; what do they signify outside
their county? Karen in herself is, I grant you, also a nobody; but she
stands to me in a relation almost filial--if I chose to call it so; and
I signify more than the families of many counties put together. Let us
be frank. He opens no doors to Karen. She opens doors to him."

Miss Scrotton, addressed in these measured and determined tones, changed
colour. "My dear Mercedes, of course you are right there. Of course in
one sense, if you take Gregory in as you have taken Karen in, you open
doors to him. I only meant that a young man in his position, with his
way to make in the world, ought to marry some well-born woman with a
little money. He must have money if he is to get on. He ought to be in
parliament one day; and Karen is without a penny, you have often told me
so, as well as illegitimate. Of course if you intend to make her a large
allowance, that is a different matter; but can you really afford to do
that, darling?"

"I consider your young man very fortunate to get Karen without one
penny," Madame von Marwitz pursued, in the same measured tones, "and I
shall certainly make him no present of my hard-earned money. Let him
earn the money for Karen, now, as I have done for so many years. Had she
married my good Franz, it would have been a very different thing. This
young man is well able to support her in comfort. No; it all comes most
opportunely. I wanted Karen to settle and to settle soon. I shall cable
my consent and my blessings to them at once. Will you kindly find me a
servant, _ma chere_."

Miss Scrotton, as she rose automatically to carr