But, Louis, if you do, such a step will sever all social relations between you and your family.

Because I will _not_ receive her! Nor will my friends--nor yours--nor father's and mother's friends! And that settles it." He spoke with great care, hesitating, picking and choosing his words: "Is it--possible that you did--such a thing--as to write to Valerie West--threatening her with my family's displeasure if she married me ?" "I did not write her at first.

The first time I went to see her.

And I told her kindly but plainly what I had to tell her! It was my duty to do it and I didn't flinch." Lily was breathing fast; her eyes narrowed unpleasantly.
He managed to master his astonishment and anger; but it was a heavy draught on his reserve of self-discipline, good temper, and common sense to pass over this thing that had been done to him and to concentrate himself upon the main issue.

When he was able to speak again, calmly and without resentment, he said: "The first thing for us to do, as a family, is to eliminate all personal bitterness from this discussion.