“Why—what—_do_ you tell me?” exclaimed the lady, in increasing astonishment. “When did it happen? What caused it? Had Mr. Clifton anything to do with it?” “It happened this evening after my return to Clifton. Mr. Clifton had nothing whatever to do with it—not having reached home at the time it occurred. It was occasioned by a most humiliating quarrel between myself and Miss Clifton!” “Oh, a quarrel! A lovers’ quarrel! That is nothing! Though, in truth, it surprises me that the calm, proud Carolyn should descend to such a thing, as it does that my own son should deign to take a part in it. But it is really nothing! Such things occur in almost every courtship!” “And those who quarrel in courtship should never venture upon matrimony.” “Ah! that is an inhuman, unfaithful sentiment, my son! Young people are like other young natures, petulant, vain, irascible, exacting—but life trains them into modesty, sobriety, forbearance. For this quarrel, Archer, it must be adjusted! It shall be to-morrow morning!” “No, madam, it shall not! This quarrel is irreconcilable, believe me!” “Pooh, pooh! _What! with Carolyn?_ Nonsense!” “Mother! you shall judge! She has descended from her high place of maidenly pride and delicacy, and betraying the most revolting phases of suspicion, jealousy and fierce anger she has charged me with infidelity, base treachery and vice!” “Dreadful! dreadful! as all angry words and acts ever are! _But not unpardonable!_ Spoken in the frenzy of passion—they will be retracted to-morrow! And then you must be reconciled. Things must go on as they have been planned. There must be no discreditable exposure of this affray. The marriage must take place, as proposed, to-morrow evening. Then, if you _must_ join your regiment, why it will be easily _understood_ that you must. And there will be no reproach under those circumstances in leaving your newly wedded bride under her father’s protection!” “Impossible, madam! Miss Clifton has to-night exhibited her character and disposition in such revolting colors, that I can never, never take her to my bosom!” “You are angry now, Archer! You will think better of it! I trust in Heaven you may do so before there is an exposure. Think what will be the astonishment of the wedding-company who will assemble to-morrow evening—the mortification of the family at Clifton, and worse than all, the scandal! the nine days wonder!” “I thought my dear mother had too strong a mind to fear these bugbears of the little, when a just occasion for meeting and braving them occurs.” “But I do not consider this an adequate occasion. That this quarrel will be finally adjusted, I firmly believe. And I think it a pity and a shame that to-morrow evening, three hundred guests should be disappointed and dispersed, to spread a subject of speculation and scandal all over the country. And this merely because you will yet a little longer indulge your anger!”