I am the last person to be so injudicious.

If you will tell me that there is not and never shall be any question of marriage between you and Miss O'Hara, I will not say another word." "I will not pledge myself to anything for the future." "You told your uncle you would never make a marriage that should be disgraceful to the position which you will be called upon to fill." "Nor will I." "But would not this marriage be disgraceful, even were the young lady ever so estimable?
How are the old families of the country to be kept up, and the old blood maintained if young men, such as you are, will not remember something of all that is due to the name which they bear." "I do not know that I have forgotten anything." Then she paused before she could summon courage to ask him another question.

"You have made no promise of marriage to Miss O'Hara ?" He sat dumb, but still looking at her with that angry frown.

"Surely your uncle has a right to expect that you will answer that question." "I am quite sure that for his sake it will be much better that no such questions shall be asked me." In point of fact he had answered the question.

When he would not deny that such promise had been made, there could no longer be any doubt of the truth of what Lady Mary had written.