“No, no; you must not be content, child, and you must hear me: you must live in a becoming style, and make a proper appearance. I could not present you to my friends here, nor be happy, if you did not, Colambre. Now the way is clear before you: you have birth and title, here is fortune ready made--you will have a noble estate of your own when old Quin dies, and you will not be any encumbrance or inconvenience to your father or any body. Marrying an heiress accomplishes all this at once--and the young lady is every thing we could wish besides--you will meet again at the gala. Indeed, between ourselves, she is the grand object of the gala--all her friends will come _en masse_, and one should wish that they should see things in proper style. You have seen the young lady in question, Colambre--Miss Broadhurst--Don’t you recollect the young lady I introduced you to last night after the opera?” “The little plain girl, covered with diamonds, who was standing beside Miss Nugent?” “In di’monds, yes--But you won’t think her plain when you see more of her--that wears off--I thought her plain, at first--I hope--” “I hope,” said Lord Colambre, “that you will not take it unkindly of me, my dear mother, if I tell you, at once, that I have no thoughts of marrying at present--and that I never will marry for money: marrying an heiress is not even a new way of paying old debts--at all events, it is one to which no distress could persuade me to have recourse; and as I must, if I outlive old Mr. Quin, have an independent fortune, _there is no_ occasion to purchase one by marriage.” “There is no distress that I know of in the case,” cried Lady Clonbrony. “Where is your imagination running, Colambre? But merely for your establishment, your independence.” “Establishment, I want none--independence I do desire, and will preserve. Assure my father, my _dear mother_, that I will not be an expense to him--I will live within the allowance he made me at Cambridge--I will give up half of it--I will do any thing for his convenience--but marry for money, that I cannot do.” “Then, Colambre, you are very disobliging,” said Lady Clonbrony, with an expression of disappointment and displeasure; “for your father says if you don’t marry Miss Broadhurst, we can’t live in Lon’on another winter.” This said--which had she been at the moment mistress of herself, she would not have betrayed--Lady Clonbrony abruptly quitted the room. Her son stood motionless, saying to himself, “Is this my mother?--How altered!”