She is the sister of my music-master, and I can certainly marry nobody else." It was not merely defiance of the dreadful old tradition, which Lord Ashbridge had announced in the manner of Moses stepping down from Sinai, that prompted this appalling statement of the case; it was the joy in the profession of his love.

It had to be flung out like that.

Lord Ashbridge looked at him a moment in dead silence.
"I have not the honour of knowing Miss--Miss Falbe, is it ?" he said; "nor shall I have that honour." Michael got up; there was that in his father's tone that stung him to fury.
"It is very likely that you will not," he said, "since when I proposed to her yesterday she did not accept me." Somehow Lord Ashbridge felt that as an insult to himself.

Indeed, it was a double insult.

Michael had proposed to this singer, and this singer had not instantly clutched him.