"I don't think Maurice's arms could hold her," says Mrs. Bethune, with a low laugh. It is a strange laugh. Lady Rylton's glance grows keener. "Such a mere doll of a thing. A mite!" She laughs again, but this time (having caught Lady Rylton's concentrated gaze) in a very ordinary manner--the passion, the anger has died out of it. "Yes, she's a mere mite," says Lady Rylton. "She is positively trivial! She is in effect a perfect idiot in some ways. You know I have tried to impress her--to show her that she is not altogether below our level--as she certainly _is_--but she has refused to see my kindness. She--she's very fatiguing," says Lady Rylton, with a long-suffering sigh. "But one gets accustomed to grievances. This girl, just because she is hateful to me, is the one I must take into my bosom. She is going to give her fortune to Maurice!" "And Maurice?" asks Margaret. "Is going to take it," returns his mother airily. "And is going to give her, what she has never had--_a name!"_ "A cruel compact," says Margaret slowly, but with decision. "I think this marriage should not be so much as thought of! That child! and Maurice, who cares nothing for her. Marian"--Miss Knollys turns suddenly to Marian, who has withdrawn behind the curtains, as if determined to have nothing to say further to the discussion-- "Marian, come here. Say you think Maurice should not marry this silly child--this baby." "Oh! as for me," says Mrs. Bethune, coming out from behind the curtains, her face a little pale, "what is my weight in this matter? Nothing! nothing! Let Maurice marry as he will." _"As he will!"_ Lady Rylton repeats her words, and, rising, comes towards her. "Why don't you answer?" says she. "We want your answer. Give it!" "I have no answer," says Mrs. Bethune slowly. "Why should he not marry Miss Bolton?--and again, why should he? Marriage, as we have been told all our lives, is but a lottery--they should have said a mockery," with a little bitter smile. "One could have understood that." "Then you advise Maurice to marry this girl?" asks Lady Rylton eagerly. "Oh, no, no! I advise nothing," says Marian, with a little wave of her arms. "But why?" demands Lady Rylton angrily. She had depended upon Marian to support her against Margaret. "Simply because I won't," says Mrs. Bethune, her strange eyes beginning to blaze. "Because you daren't?" questions Lady Rylton, with a sneer. "I don't understand you," says Marian coldly. "Don't you?" Lady Rylton's soft, little, fair face grows diabolical. "Then let me explain." Margaret makes a movement towards her, but she waves her back. "Pray let me explain, Margaret. Our dear Marian is so intensely dull that she wants a word in season. We all know why she objects to a marriage of any sort. She made a fiasco of her own first marriage, and now hopes----"