mpering
yourself with an ignorant mountain girl from America, you should have
allied yourself to a strong family of position here, if you would be a
power in England. What sort of a Lady Thryng will your present wife
make? What kind of a leader socially in your own class? You might better
try to place a girl from the bogs of Ireland at the head of your table."

Again David's rage surged through him in a hot wave, but he controlled
himself. "You admitted Cassandra has both beauty and charm?"

"Would my son have been attracted to her else? Nevertheless, what I say
stands. As a help to you--"

"You have done your duty, mother. I will say this for you--that for
sophistry undiluted, a woman of the present day who stands where you do,
can out-Greek the ancients. How is it we see so differently? Is it that
I am like my father? How did he see things?"

"Your father was as much a nobleman as your uncle. Only by the accident
of birth was he differently placed. Did I never tell you that but for
his death he would have been created bishop of his diocese? So you
see--"

"I see. By dying he just escaped a bishopric. Did it make a difference
in his reception up above--do you think?"

"Oh, David, David!"

"I'm sorry mother--never mind. We're nearly there and I have something I
must say to you before I leave you to end this discussion forever. There
are two kinds of men in this world,--one sort is made by his
circumstances, and the other makes his circumstances. You would respect
your son more if he belonged to the first variety, but I tell you no. I
will make my own conditions. Before all else, I am a man. My lordship
was thrust upon me. Don't interrupt, I beg. I know all you would say,
but you do not know all I would say-- My birth gave it to me certainly,
but a cruel and bloody war was the means by which it came to me. Very
well. I will take it and the responsibility which it entails; but the
cruelty that brought me my title is ended and in no form shall it be
continued, social or otherwise. I hold to the rights of my manhood. I
will bring to England whom I please as my wife, and my world shall
recognize her, and you will receive her because I bring her, and because
she will stand head and soul above any one you have here to propose for
me. Here we are, mother dear. One kiss? Thank you, thank you. Postpone
Laura's coming out until--I return--which will be--when--you know."

He leaped from the carriage before it had time to h