Dorothy making no return, Mrs. Hanway-Harley, after waiting a moment, gave herself to a recount of those glowing advantages promised by such a marriage. Was a nobleman, wealthy, young, handsome, on terms of comradeship with his Czar, to be refused? Half the women in Washington were wild for such an offer. It would place the Harleys on a footing by themselves. "But I don't love him!" urged Dorothy, as though that had to do with the question. At this foolishly unfortunate objection, Mrs. Hanway-Harley was rendered speechless. Then, as notice of Dorothy's white, cold obstinacy began to dawn upon her, she went suddenly into lamentations. To think her child, her only child, should deal her such a blow! Mrs. Hanway-Harley called herself the most ill-treated of parents. She said her best and dearest feelings had been trampled upon. In a shower of tears, and a cataract of complaint, she bemoaned her dark, ungrateful destiny. At this, Dorothy's tears began to flow, and the interview became hysterical. Mrs. Hanway-Harley was the earlier to recover her balance. Drying her eyes, she said: "Disobedient child!"--this was also from the magazine--"since you will not listen to the voice of love, since you will not listen to the voice of reason, you shall listen to the voice of command." Then, striking a pose that was almost tragic, Mrs. Hanway-Harley told Dorothy she _must_ marry Storri. "As your mother, I command it!" said Mrs. Hanway-Harley, lifting her jeweled hand finely, as though the thing were settled and the conference at an end. "And I tell you," said Dorothy, catching her breath and speaking with bitter slowness, "that I shall not marry him!" "This to me!--your mother!--in my own house!" "You shall not drive me!" cried Dorothy passionately, her eyes roving savagely, like the eyes of a badgered animal. "Am I to have no voice in disposal of myself? I tell you I shall marry whom I please! And since he makes his proffer through you, tell the creature Storri that I loathe him!" "Have a care, child!" This last was also from the magazine, and Mrs. Hanway-Harley got it off superbly. It missed fire, so far as Dorothy was concerned--Dorothy, strung like a bow, and now in full rebellion. "It is you to have a care!" retorted Dorothy. "Papa and Uncle Pat shall hear of this!" "They will say as I say!" observed Mrs. Hanway-Harley, who believed it. "And if they should," cried Dorothy, "I have still a resource!" "Flight?" said Mrs. Hanway-Harley, not without contempt. "Marriage!" replied Dorothy, now as dry of eye as she was defiant. Bess Marklin was assuredly right in her estimate of formalities, and their saving and securing worth. "Marriage!" repeated Dorothy, and her voice rang out in a composite note of love and triumph as she thought of Richard. "Marriage!" Mrs. Hanway-Harley was staggered. Here was a pathway of escape she had not counted on. "Whom would you marry?" "You shall not know," said Dorothy.