"You know, as well as I do, that she is detestable." "I am quite glad you have formed that idea of her," says Miss Knollys, "as it leads me to hope you do not now desire to marry her to Maurice." After all, there are, perhaps, moments when Margaret is not as perfect as one believes her.

She can't, for example, resist this thrust.
"Decidedly I don't _desire _to marry her to Maurice," says Lady Rylton angrily.

"I have told you that often enough, I think; but for all that Maurice must marry her.

It is his last chance!" "Tessie," says Margaret sharply, "if you persist in this matter, and bring it to the conclusion you have in view, do you know what will happen?
You will make your only child miserable! I warn you of that." Miss Knollys' voice is almost solemn.
"You talk as if Maurice was the only person in the world to be made miserable," says Lady Rylton, leaning back in her chair and bursting into tears--at all events, it must be supposed it is tears that are going on behind the little lace fragment pressed to her eyes.

"Am not I ten times more miserable?
I, who have to give my only son--as" (sobbing) "you most admirably describe it, Margaret--to such a girl as that! Good heavens! What can his sufferings be to mine ?" She wipes her eyes daintily, and sits up again.