Luke replied gravely, "I have done my office; whoever asks me to read his banns, or to marry him, I am bound to execute my office." "I will send to the rector, and have you turned out of the cure." "You may do so, if you please." Luke maintained his calm exterior. The old man was trembling with anger. "If you have objections to the marriage, state them," said Luke. "Objections! Of course I have. The marriage shall not take place. I forbid it." "On what grounds?" "Grounds!--I do not choose that it shall take place; let that suffice." "That, however, will not suffice for me. I am bound to repeat the banns, and to marry the pair, if they desire it, unless you can show me reasons--legitimate reasons--to make me refuse. Anthony is of age." "He _shall_ not marry that hussy. I will disinherit him if he does. Is not that enough? I will not be defied and disputed with. I have grounds which I do not choose to proclaim to the parish." "Grounds I know you have," answered Luke gravely; "but not one that will hold. Why not give your consent? Urith is not penniless. Willsworthy will prove a good addition to Hall. Your son loves her, and she loves him." "I will not have it. He shall not marry her!" again broke from the angry man. "He does it to defy me." "There you are in error. It is you who have forced him into a position of estrangement, and apparent rebellion, because you will not suffer him to obey his own heart. He seeks his happiness in a way different from what you had mapped out; but it is _his_ happiness, and he is better able to judge what conduces thereto than are you." "I do know better than he. Does it lead to happiness to live separated from me--for I will never see him if he marries that hussy? Will it be to his happiness to see Hall pass away into other hands? Never, so help me God! shall he bring her over my threshold--certainly never as mistress. Answer me that." The blood mounted to Luke's cheeks, and burnt there in two angry spots. "Master Cleverdon," he said, and his voice assumed the authority of a priest, "your own wrongdoing is turning against you and yours. You did Urith's father a wrong, and you hate him and his daughter because you know that you were guilty towards him. You took from him the woman he loved, and who loved him, and sought to build your domestic happiness on broken hearts. You failed: you know by bitter experience how great was your failure; and, instead of being humbled thereby, and reproaching yourself, you become rancorous against his innocent child." "You--you, say this! You beggar, whom I raised from the dunghill, fed, and clothed?"