Later on, when Mr. Blother had also left us to ourselves, Mr. Perry said: "Of course one has to be careful how one expresses one's self before Arthur. He doesn't see that what may be unobjectionable in certain cases would be indefensible if it were acted upon everywhere. At one time a peer of the realm had the right to make his will prevail over everybody beneath his own rank; but the right has fallen into disuse, and is now only exercised in the case of those who are not in a position to resent it. Arthur would, no doubt, admit that it would be an intolerable state of affairs if _any_ peer took to interfering with _any_ commoner, whatever position he might hold; and that if it were done to any extent, the right would have to be taken away. It is only by exercising it carefully, and, as I say, on those who are not in a position to resent it, that the peers can expect to keep it at all." "Then I understand," I said, "that Lord Potter, as a peer, really has the right to come and interfere with me, although he holds no official position." "If you refuse to acknowledge his right," said Mr. Perry, "as _I_ certainly do, if he tries to force himself into this house he will not find any tribunal in the country that will punish you for it." Miriam and I went into her garden after luncheon. When we had shut the gate and were alone together in that green and shady retreat, I took her sweet face between my hands and kissed it. "They have been saying all sorts of things about me," I said. "Do you believe them?" She looked me straight in the eyes, and laughed. "What, that you are not quite right in your head?" she asked. "Well, that was Edward's idea. Blother inclines to the opinion that I was drunk." "Mr. Blother is a very silly old man," said Miriam, "and dear old Edward is so taken up with his own affairs that one need never pay much attention to what _he_ says. But, John--truly now--you are not teasing me about England? You _can_ find your way there and it _is_ as nice as you say it is?" "Of course I can find my way there. I only wish I could go and find it now, this minute, and take you with me." She sighed. We were now sitting on the garden-seat. "I almost wish you could," she said. "I should like to get off all the bother of the wedding. I dread that more than anything." "Why?" I asked, in some surprise. "I thought everything was going to be as simple as possible." "Well, father says now that he thinks we _must_ have a rich wedding, and ask all our friends amongst the lower classes. I should like them to come, of course, because a lot of them are real friends; but I do hate the idea of a regular rich wedding." "Why does your father think we ought to have one?" I asked. "He seemed to be pleased that I wasn't a man like Eppstein, and that you were marrying into your own class."