"The gulf may be less than you imagine," I said coldly.

"We are not clodhoppers because we live in this out-of-the-way place.

I am of noble descent on one side, and my mother was a Buchan of Buchan, I assure you that there is no such disparity between us as you seem to imagine." "You misunderstand me," the general answered.

"It is on our side that the disparity lies.

There are reasons why my daughter Gabriel should live and die single.