"What's the good?" said the Marquis. "They can't marry each other. I wouldn't give her a shilling if she were to do such a thing without my sanction." Hampstead knew very well that, in spite of this, his father had made by his will ample provision for his sister, and that it was very improbable that any alteration in this respect would be made, let his sister's disobedience be what it might. But the Marquis seemed hardly to be so much affected as he had expected by these tidings. "Whatever you do," said the Marquis, "don't let her ladyship know it. She would be sure to come down to me and say it was all my fault; and then she would tell me what Mr. Greenwood thought about it." The poor man did not know how little likely it was that she would ever again throw Mr. Greenwood in his teeth. Lord Hampstead had not as yet even seen his stepmother, but had thought it no more than decent to send her word that he would wait upon her before he left the house. All domestic troubles he knew to be bad. For his stepmother's sake, and for that of his sister and little brothers, he would avoid as far as might be possible any open rupture. He therefore went to the Marchioness before he ate his dinner. "My father is much better," he said; but his stepmother only shook her head, so that there was before him the task of recommencing the conversation. "Dr. Spicer says so." "I am not sure that Mr. Spicer knows much about it." "He thinks so himself." "He never tells me what he thinks. He hardly tells me anything." "He is not strong enough for much talking." "He will talk to Mr. Roberts by the hour together. So I hear that I am to congratulate you." This she said in a tone which was clearly intended to signify both condemnation and ridicule. "I am not aware of it," said Hampstead with a smile. "I suppose it is true about the Quaker lady?" "I can hardly tell you, not knowing what you may have heard. There can be no room for congratulation, as the lady has not accepted the offer I have made her." The Marchioness laughed incredulously,--with a little affected laugh in which the incredulity was sincere.--"I can only tell you that it is so." "No doubt you will try again?" "No doubt." "Young ladies in such circumstances are not apt to persevere in their severity. Perhaps it may be supposed that she will give way at last." "I cannot take upon myself to answer that, Lady Kingsbury. The matter is one on which I am not particularly anxious to talk. Only as you asked me I thought it best just to tell you the facts." "I am sure I am ever so much obliged to you. The young lady's father is--" "The young lady's father is a clerk in a merchant's office in the City." "So I understand,--and a Quaker?" "And a Quaker." "And I believe he lives at Holloway." "Just so." "In the same street with that young man whom Fanny has--has chosen to pick up." "Marion Fay and her father live at No. 17, Paradise Row, Holloway; and Mrs. Roden and George Roden live at No. 11."