"I certainly think that young ladies should marry in their own rank." "So much depends upon it,--does it not, Lord Llwddythlw? All the future blood of our head families! My own opinion is that nothing could be too severe for such conduct." "Will severity prevent it?" "Nothing else can. My own impression is that a father in such case should be allowed to confine his daughter. But then the Marquis is so weak." "The country would not stand it for a moment." "So much the worse for the country," said her ladyship, holding up her hands. "But the brother is if possible worse than the sister." "Hampstead?" "He utterly hates all idea of an aristocracy." "That is absurd." "Most absurd," said the Marchioness, feeling herself to be encouraged;--"most absurd, and abominable, and wicked. He is quite a revolutionist." "Not that, I think," said his lordship, who knew pretty well the nature of Hampstead's political feelings. "Indeed he is. Why, he encourages his sister! He would not mind her marrying a shoeblack if only he could debase his own family. Think what I must feel, I, with my darling boys!" "Is not he kind to them?" "I would prefer that he should never see them!" "I don't see that at all," said the angry lord. But she altogether misunderstood him. "When I think of what he is, and to what he will reduce the whole family should he live, I cannot bear to see him touch them. Think of the blood of the Traffords, of the blood of the Mountressors, of the blood of the Hautevilles;--think of your own blood, which is now to be connected with theirs, and that all this is to be defiled because this man chooses to bring about a disreputable, disgusting marriage with the expressed purpose of degrading us all." "I beg your pardon, Lady Kingsbury; I shall be in no way degraded." "Think of us; think of my children." "Nor will they. It may be a misfortune, but will be no degradation. Honour can only be impaired by that which is dishonourable. I wish that Lady Frances had given her heart elsewhere, but I feel sure that the name of her family is safe in her hands. As for Hampstead, he is a young man for whose convictions I have no sympathy,--but I am sure that he is a gentleman." "I would that he were dead," said Lady Kingsbury in her wrath. "Lady Kingsbury!" "I would that he were dead!" "I can only say," said Lord Llwddythlw, rising from his chair, "that you have made your confidence most unfortunately. Lord Hampstead is a young nobleman whom I should be proud to call my friend. A man's politics are his own. His honour, his integrity, and even his conduct belong in a measure to his family. I do not think that his father, or his brothers, or, if I may say so, his stepmother, will ever have occasion to blush for anything that he may do." With this he bowed to the Marchioness, and stalked out of the room with a grand manner, which those who saw him shuffling his feet in the House of Commons would hardly have thought belonged to him.