'No less a person than her Grace the Duchess of Dunstanburgh has offered me, through the Chancellor, the support and honour of her hand.' Constance started. This was the worst, indeed. The Duchess of Dunstanburgh! Sixty-five years of age; already thrice a widow; the Duchess of Dunstanburgh! She could not speak. 'Have you nothing to say, Constance?' asked the young man. 'Do you not envy me my happy lot? My bride is not young to be sure, but she is a Duchess; the old Earldom will be lost in the new Duchy. She has buried three husbands already; one may look forward with joy to lying beside them in her gorgeous mausoleum. Her country house is finer than mine, but it is not so old. She is of rank so exalted that one need not inquire into her temper, which is said to be evil; nor into the little faults, such as jealousy, suspicion, meanness, greed, and avarice, with which the wicked world credits her.' 'Edward! Edward!' cried his cousin. 'Then, again, one's religion will be so beautifully brought into play. We are required to obey--that is the first thing taught in the Church catechism; all women are set in authority over us. I must therefore obey the Chancellor.' His hearers were silent. 'Again, what says the text?--"It is man's chiefest honour to be chosen: his highest duty to give, wherever bidden, his love, his devotion, and his loyalty."' The Professor nodded her head gravely. 'What martyrs of religion would ask for a more noble opportunity,' he asked, 'than to marry this old woman?' 'Edward!' Constance could only warn. She sees no way to advise. 'Do not scoff.' 'Let us face the position,' said the Professor. 'The Chancellor has gone through the form of asking your consent to this marriage. When?' 'Last night.' 'And when do you see her?' 'I am to see her ladyship this very morning.' 'To inform her of your acquiescence. Yes; it is the usual form. The time is very short.' 'My acquiescence?' asked the Earl. 'We shall see about that presently.' 'Patience, my lord!' The Professor was thinking what to advise for the best. 'Patience! Let us have no sudden and violent resolves. We may get time. Ay--time will be our best friend. Remember that the Chancellor _must_ be obeyed. She may, for the sake of courtesy, go through the form of proposing a suitable alliance for your consideration, but her proposition is her order, which you must obey. Otherwise it is contempt of court, and the penalty----' 'I know it,' said the Earl, 'already. It is imprisonment.' 'Such contempt would be punished by imprisonment for life. Imprisonment, hopeless.' 'Nay,' he replied. 'Not hopeless, because one could always hope in the power of friends. Have I not Constance? And then, you see, Professor, I am two-and-twenty, while the Chancellor and the Duchess are both sixty-five. Perhaps they may join the majority.'