"It isn't that she dislikes you, but she's staying with that Mrs. Tappitt, who is furious against me because,--I suppose it's because of this brewery row. But indeed I can't understand it. A week ago I was at home there; now I daren't show my nose in the house, and have been turned out of the brewery this morning with a poker." "I hope it's nothing about me," said Rachel. "How can it be about you?" "Because I thought Mrs. Tappitt looked at the ball as though--. But I suppose it didn't mean anything." "It ought to be a matter of perfect indifference whether it meant anything or not." "But how can it be so about your mother? If this is ever to lead to anything--" "Lead to anything! What it will lead to is quite settled." "You know what I mean. But how could I become your wife if your mother did not wish it?" "Look here, Rachel; that's all very proper for a girl, I dare say. If your mother thought I was not fit to be your husband, I won't say but what you ought to take her word in such a matter. But it isn't so with a man. It will make me very unhappy if my mother cannot be friends with my wife; but no threats of hers to that effect would prevent me from marrying, nor should they have any effect upon you. I'm my own master, and from the nature of things I must look out for myself." This was all very grand and masterful on Rowan's part, and might in theory be true; but there was that in it which made Rachel uneasy, and gave to her love its first shade of trouble. She could not be quite happy as Luke's promised bride, if she knew that she would not be welcomed to that place by Luke's mother. And then what right had she to think it probable that Luke's mother would give her such a welcome? At that first meeting, however, she said but little herself on the subject. She had pledged to him her troth, and she would not attempt to go back from her pledge at the first appearance of a difficulty. She would talk to her own mother, and perhaps his mother might relent. But throughout it all there ran a feeling of dismay at the idea of marrying a man whose mother would not willingly receive her as a daughter! "But you must go," said she at last. "Indeed you must. I have things to do, if you have nothing." "I'm the idlest man in the world at the present moment. If you turn me out I can only go and sit at the inn." "Then you must go and sit at the inn. If you stay any longer mamma won't have any dinner." "If that's so, of course I'll go. But I shall come back to tea." As Rachel gave no positive refusal to this proposition, Rowan took his departure on the understanding that he might return. "Good-bye," said he. "When I come this evening I shall expect you to walk with me." "Oh, I don't know," said she.