'Not always. Take a new one, George--a real one. Stamp it on your spoons and forks and in your books and on your carriage. Let it be simply the words, "Dux Femina Facti."' CHAPTER XXXII ELSIE AND HER MOTHER 'Can you spare me a few minutes, mother?' Mrs. Arundel looked up from the desk where she was writing a letter, and saw her daughter standing before her. She started and changed colour, but quickly recovered, and replied coldly: 'I did not hear you come in, Elsie. What do you want with me?' Outside, the bells were ringing for Church: it was a quarter to eleven: Mrs. Arundel was already dressed for Church. She was one of those who do not see any incongruity between Church and a heart full of animosities. She was bitter against her daughter, and hard towards her son, and she hated her son-in-law elect with all the powers of her passionate nature. But, my brothers, what an array of bare benches should we see in every place of worship were those only admitted who came with hearts of charity and love! 'Do you wish to keep me long, Elsie? If so, we will sit down. If not, I am ready for Church, and I do not like to arrive late. People in our position should show a good example.' 'I do not think that I shall keep you very long. But if you sit down, you will be so much more comfortable.' 'Comfort, Elsie, you have driven out of this house.' 'I will bring it back with me, then. On Monday evening, mother, I am coming back.' 'Oh! What do you mean, child? Has the blow really fallen? I heard that it was impending. Is the young man--is he--a prisoner?' 'No, mother. You are quite mistaken. You have been mistaken all along. Yet I shall come back on Monday.' 'Alone, then?' 'I shall leave it to you whether I come back alone, or with the two men whom I most regard of all the world--my lover and my brother.' 'You know my opinions, Elsie. There has been no change in them. There can be none.' 'Wednesday is my wedding day.' 'I am not interested in that event, Elsie. After your wedding with such a man, against the opinions, the wishes, the commands of all whom you are bound to respect, I can only say that you are no longer my daughter.' 'Oh! How can you be so fixed in such a belief? Mother, let me make one more appeal to your better feelings. Throw off these suspicions. Believe me, they are baseless. There is not the shadow of a foundation for this ridiculous structure they have raised. Consider. It is now--how long?--three weeks since they brought this charge, and they have proved nothing--absolutely nothing. If you would only be brought to see on what false assumptions the whole thing rests.' 'On solid foundations--hard facts--I want no more.' 'If I could prove to you that Athelstan was in America until a month ago.'