When you express yourself as thankful that there is nothing in the rumour, I am forced to stop you, as otherwise it is possible that hereafter you may say that I have deceived you." "But you don't mean to marry her ?" "I certainly do not mean to pledge myself not to do so." "Do you mean to tell me, Henry, that you are in love with Miss Crawley ?" Then there was another pause, during which the archdeacon sat looking for an answer; but the major said never a word.

"Am I to suppose that you intend to lower yourself by marrying a young woman who cannot possibly have enjoyed any of the advantages of a lady's education?
I say nothing of the imprudence of the thing; nothing of her own want of fortune; nothing of your having to maintain a whole family steeped in poverty; nothing of the debts and character of the father, upon whom, as I understand, at this moment there rests a very grave suspicion of--of--of--what I'm afraid I must call downright theft." "Downright theft, certainly, if he were guilty." "I say nothing of all that; but looking at the young woman herself--" "She is simply the best educated girl whom it has ever been my lot to meet." "Henry, I have a right to expect that you will be honest with me." "I am honest with you." "Do you mean to ask this girl to marry you ?" "I do not think that you have any right to ask me that question, sir." "I have a right at any rate to tell you this, that if you so far disgrace yourself and me, I shall consider myself bound to withdraw from you all the sanction which would be conveyed by my--my--my continued assistance." "Do you intend me to understand that you will stop my income ?" "Certainly I should." "Then, sir, I think you would behave to me most cruelly.

You advised me to give up my profession." "Not in order that you might marry Grace Crawley." "I claim the privilege of a man of my age to do as I please in such a matter as marriage.

Miss Crawley is a lady.

Her father is a clergyman, as is mine.