"There are no grave political interests between my mother and the Duke; and I shall, at all events, take my mother's counsel." She had stood with the door open in her hand; she now passed outside. So far she had kept herself from any exhibition of feeling; but, oh, how wronged and unhappy and offended she felt! She went down and down the splendid stairway, erect as a reed; but her heart was like a wounded bird: it fluttered wildly in her bosom, and would not be comforted until she reached that nest of all nests,--her mother's breast. There she poured out all her grief and indignation; and Mrs. Atheling never interrupted the relation by a single word. She clasped the weeping girl to her heart, and stroked her hands, and soothed her in those tender little ways that are closer and sweeter than any words can be. But when Kate had wept her passionate sense of wrong and affront away, the good mother withdrew herself a little, and began to question her child. "Let me understand plainly, Kitty dear," she said. "Her Grace--Grace indeed!--wishes you to promise her that you will give up Piers to Annabel." "Yes, Mother." "And that you will never marry Piers under any circumstances?" "Yes, Mother." "And she thinks you 'presumptuous' in hoping to marry her son?" "Yes, dear Mother. She said 'presumptuous.' Am I; ought I to do as she wishes me? Oh, I cannot give up Piers! Only this morning he told me that he would never marry any woman but me." "Have I or your good father told you to give up Piers?" "No, Mother." "When we do, you will of course know we have good reasons for such an order, and you will give him up. But as yet, father hasn't said such a word; and I haven't. Kitty darling, the Fifth Commandment only asks you to obey your own father and mother. Let the Duchess put the 'giving up' where it ought to be. Let her tell her son to give you up--that is quite as far as her authority extends. She has nothing to say to Kate Atheling; nor has my little Kitty any obligation to obey her. She must give such orders to Piers Exham. It is the duty of his heart and conscience to decide whether he will obey or not." "Then I can go on loving him, Mother, without wronging myself or others?" "Go on loving him, dearie." "He said he was coming to ride with me at three o'clock." "Ride with him, and be happy while you can, dear child. Let mother kiss such foolish tears away. I can tell you father was proud of your beauty last night. He said you were the loveliest woman in London." "The Duke of Wellington told me I was a beautiful girl; and he said many wise and kind things to me, Mother. What did father think about the Reform Bill?"