"The Countess Lovel presents her compliments to Miss Lovel. The Countess disapproves altogether of the marriage which is about to take place between Lady Anna Lovel and Mr. Daniel Thwaite, and will take no part in the ceremony." "By heavens,--she is the best Lovel of us all," said the rector when he read the letter. This reply was received at Yoxham three days before any answer came either from Lady Anna or from the tailor. Daniel had received his communication from the young lord, who had called him "Dear Mr. Thwaite," who had written quite familiarly about the coming nuptials with "his cousin Anna,"--had bade him come down and join the family "like a good fellow,"--and had signed himself, "Yours always most sincerely, Lovel." "It almost takes my breath away," said the tailor to his sweetheart, laughing. "They are cousins, you know," said Lady Anna. "And there was a little girl there I loved so much." "They can't but despise me, you know," said the tailor. "Why should any one despise you?" "No one should,--unless I be mean and despicable. But they do,--you may be sure. It is only human nature that they should. We are made of different fabric,--though the stuff was originally the same. I don't think I should be at my ease with them. I should be half afraid of their gilt and their gingerbread, and should be ashamed of myself because I was so. I should not know how to drink wine with them, and should do a hundred things which would make them think me a beast." "I don't see why you shouldn't hold up your head with any man in England," said Lady Anna.