I am twenty-four, and I love you, Catharine Knollys." "It was three generations ago," said the Lady Catharine, slowly and musingly, as though she had not heard the speech of her suitor.

"Three generations ago.

Yet never since then hath there been clean name for the Banbury estate.

Never yet hath its peer sat in his rightful place in Parliament.

And never yet hath eldest daughter of this house failed to show this mark of shame, this unpurged contempt for that which is ordained.