"As for showing himself, Mrs. Tappitt, my son will never be ashamed of showing himself anywhere." "But he won't have any call to come to Baslehurst, Mrs. Rowan. That's what I mean." "If he's a gentleman of his word, as I take him to be," said Mrs. Ray, "he'll have a great call to show himself. He never can have intended to come out here, and speak to her in that way, and ask her to marry him, and then never to come back and see her any more! I wouldn't believe it of him, not though his own mother said it!" "I don't say anything," said Mrs. Rowan, who felt that her position was one of some difficulty. "But we all do know that in affairs of that kind young men do allow themselves to go great lengths. And the greater lengths they go, Mrs. Ray, the more particular the young ladies ought to be." "But what's a young lady to do? How's she to know whether a young man is in earnest, or whether he's only going lengths, as you call it?" Mrs. Ray's eyes were still moist with tears; and, I grieve to say that though, as far as immediate words are concerned, she was fighting Rachel's battle not badly, still the blows of the enemy were taking effect upon her. She was beginning to wish that Luke Rowan had never been seen, or his name heard, at Bragg's End. "I think it's quite understood in the world," said Mrs. Rowan, "that a young lady is not to take a gentleman at his first word." "Oh, quite," said Mrs. Tappitt. "We've all of us daughters," said Mrs. Rowan. "Yes, all of us," said Mrs. Tappitt. "That's what makes it so fitting that we should discuss this matter together in a friendly feeling." "My son is a very good young man,--a very good young man indeed." "But a little hasty, perhaps," said Mrs. Tappitt. "If you'll allow me, Mrs. Tappitt." "Oh, certainly, Mrs. Rowan." "A very good young man indeed; and I don't think it at all probable that in such a matter as this he will act in opposition to his mother's wishes. He has his way to make in the world." "Which will never be in the brewery line," said Mrs. Tappitt. "He has his way to make in the world," continued Mrs. Rowan, with much severity; "and if he marries in four or five years' time, that will be quite as soon as he ought to think of doing. I'm sure you will agree with me, Mrs. Ray, that long engagements are very bad, particularly for the lady." "He wanted to be married next month," said Mrs. Ray.