"I have already admitted the right of one person to be consulted about May's future:--the benevolent, unselfish, high-minded woman, who befriended her, and cherished her, and was a mother to her, when she was deserted by every one else. As to her marrying the footman--it is clear, madam, that she might have married the hangman, for all the effort _you_ would have made to prevent it, until Mrs. Dobbs bribed you to take some notice of your niece! But in marrying a Rivers of Riversmead I need not, I suppose, inform you that she will confer on you the honour of a connection with a race of gentlemen compared with whom--if we are to stand on genealogies--half the names in the Peerage are a mere fungus-growth of yesterday." It was the first word he had said to her which was less than courteously forbearing. And it was the first word which gave her a momentary twinge of regret that his suit was altogether inadmissible. She contrasted his bearing with that of May's two other wooers:--Bransby the smooth, and Bragg the unpolished; and she said to herself with a sigh, that there was no doubt about this young man's pedigree, and that "_bon sang ne peut mentir_." But not therefore did she flinch from her position. She answered him in the same words she had used years ago to her brother, in that very room. "It will not do, Mr. Rivers. I assure you, it will not do!" Then she bent her head with quiet grace, and moved to go away. "One instant, Mrs. Dormer-Smith!" Owen said, following her to the door of the dining-room. "I wish, if you please, to speak with May again before I go away." "Impossible. I cannot, compatibly with my duty, consent to your seeing her now, or at any future time." "Am I to understand that you forbid me your house?" "If you please. Unless, indeed, you consent to come in any other character than as my niece's suitor. In that case it would give me great pleasure to receive you as I have done before." He stood looking at her rather blankly. The position was undeniably awkward. It was impossible--for May's sake, if from no other consideration--to make a scene of violence, and insist upon seeing her. And, even if he did so, Mrs. Dormer-Smith might still resist. She was mistress of the situation so far. Even in his vexation and perplexity, the ludicrous side of the affair struck him. "Well," said he, after a moment, taking up his hat, "I cannot intrude into your house against your will. Our only resource must be to meet elsewhere. I warn you we shall do so. Of course, it is idle to suppose that you have the power to keep us apart." Mrs. Dormer-Smith shook her head, and repeated with gentle obstinacy, "It will not do, Mr. Rivers. I really am very sorry, but it will _not_ do." "War, then, is declared between us?"