Those perpetual insinuations! What had his mother meant by saying that Marian was laying herself out to catch Lord Dunkerton, an old baron in the neighbourhood, with some money and a damaged reputation?
That could not be true--he would not believe it.

That old beast! Marian would not so much as look at him.

And yet--had she not been very civil to him at that ball last week?
Coming out from his mother's boudoir, a perfect storm of fury in his heart, he finds himself face to face with Marian.

Something in his face warns her.

She would have gone by him with a light word or two, but, catching her by the wrist, he draws her into a room on his left.
"You have had another quarrel with your mother," says she sympathetically, ignoring the anger blazing in his eyes.