have, can say that."

"I am sure your position is all that is desirable."

"That's just it. No position could be more desirable. I should
give up the service immediately as soon as I was married." At that
Mrs. Dosett bowed, not knowing what words to find for further
conversation. "After that," continued the Captain, "do you mean to
say that I am not to be allowed to see the young lady?"

"I cannot force her to come down, Captain Batsby."

"I would if I were you."

"Force a young lady?"

"Something ought to be done," said he, beginning almost to whine.
"I have come here on purpose to see her, and I am quite prepared to
do what is handsome. My half-sister, Lady Albury, had her down at
Stalham, and is quite anxious to have her there again. I suppose you
have no objection to make to me, Mrs. Dosett?"

"Oh, dear no."

"Or Mr. Dosett?"

"I do not say that he has, Captain Batsby; but this is a matter in
which a young lady's word must be paramount. We cannot force her to
marry you, or even to speak to you." The Captain still went on with
entreaties, till Mrs. Dosett found herself so far compelled to accede
to him as to go up to Ayala's room and beg her to come down and
answer this third suitor with her own voice. But Ayala was immovable.
When her aunt came near her she took hold of the bed as though
fearing an attempt would be made to drag her out of the room. She
again declared that if she were forced into the room below nothing
could oblige her to speak even a word.

"As for thanking him," she said, "you can do that yourself, Aunt
Margaret, if you like. I am not a bit obliged to him; but, if you
choose to say so, you may; only pray do tell him to go away,--and
tell him never, never to come back any more." Then Mrs. Dosett
returned to the drawing-room, and declared that her embassy had been
quite in vain.

"In all my life," said Captain Batsby, as he took his leave, "I never
heard of such conduct before." Nevertheless, as he went away he made
up his mind that Lady Albury should get Ayala again down to Stalham.
He was very angry, but his love remained as hot as ever.

"As I did not succeed in seeing her," he said, in a letter to his
half-sister, "of course I do not know what she might have said to
me herself. I might probably have induced her to give me another
hearing. I put it all down to that abominable aunt, who probably has
some scheme of her own, and would not let Miss Dormer come down to
me. If you will