Lucian Leigh's side of the story did not meet with so favourable a reception. Like Lady Haredale, Mrs Leigh had not taken warning in time, and, while she was thinking of cautioning her son against the penniless beauty, he stood before her with the tale of his successful wooing, quite unprepared for the displeasure with which she received it. He was entirely independent of her, and she had no power to prevent him from marrying whom he would; and when she comprehended that the offer had been made and accepted, her consternation was great. "Lucian! In three weeks! One of those Haredales! Nothing could have grieved me more." "I don't think you can mean that, mother," said Lucian. "You don't know what you are doing." Lucian said nothing. The fewness of his words always made it difficult to argue with him. He made no protestations of passionate love, but he did not yield an inch, and only said at last-- "But I'm booked now, mother. I _have_ proposed to her." "Will you not at least give in to a delay? Have you no regard to my wishes?" "Yes," said Lucian, "I wish you liked it. But I think I ought to settle it for myself. Anyway I _have_ settled it." "And have you no misgivings?" "No," said Lucian, with a light in his handsome face never seen there before. Mrs Leigh felt as if she might as well argue with a statue. She went to bed in distress and uncertainty, and, early the next morning sent over a message to the Rectory, begging Mr Riddell to come and see her at once. He was an old friend, and his office made her feel it right to consult him besides; and she was a woman who liked sympathy, and always talked freely of her troubles and anxieties. He came before breakfast was over at Ashfield, and Mrs Leigh, rising, with an eager squeeze of his hand, dismissed her little girls and their governess, and said tearfully-- "My dear Rector, you know everything I would say. I shall leave you with this foolish boy to persuade him, if possible--" "I can go, mother, if you want to tell the Rector all your objections," said Lucian. "Anyway I don't see why you should go away. I _have_ proposed to Miss Haredale, and she has accepted me. The thing is done." Lucian turned scarlet as he spoke, and embarrassment gave a certain coldness to his tone. Mr Riddell recognised that he would be hard to move. "My dear boy," he said, as Mrs Leigh, in spite of her son's words, left them alone together, "I think I am sorry that you have been so hasty. Three weeks is a very short time." "It's quite long enough," said Lucian.