-same right that you have to drive me from your daughter. You
did not heed my wishes, why expect me to prove more delicate?"

"Because I can enforce what I wish, and you could not."

"How?"

"By asking Mr. Hepworth Closs to leave Oakhurst at once, and by
providing against all chance of his coming here again."

Closs turned very white, and his hand clenched and unclenched itself
with passionate force.

"My lord, this is a cruel insult, which I have not deserved!"

All at once the earl turned, with some show of feeling, and looked
Hepworth steadily in the face.

"Hepworth Closs, listen to me. If I seem cruel and unmanly, it is
because I wish to be kind. The hand which sweeps a moth from its
circling around a candle, must seem very cruel to the poor insect. I
tell you, fairly, Hepworth Closs, it is not so much pride of birth or
personal dislike that prompts me to deny my daughter to you. But she is
heiress in entail to the Carset title and Houghton Castle, a noble
title, without support, unless the old countess makes her heiress, by
will, of her personal estates. By marrying your sister, I mortally
offended this old lady. Rachael has been, from first to last, the
special object of her dislike. Lady Clara has added to this by refusing
to visit Houghton unless her stepmother is received there also. This
quarrel may throw one of the richest inheritances in England out of my
family, and all from my unfortunate marriage."

"Your unfortunate marriage!" exclaimed Closs, hotly.

"How could it be otherwise?" answered Lord Hope, sadly.

There was something in Hope's voice that touched Hepworth Closs with
feelings akin to those he had felt for the proud young man years ago.

"This was the language I used to my sister the night before she became
your wife," he said.

"Oh, my God! if she had but listened--if she had but listened!"

"Lord Hope! do I understand? Has your marriage with Rachael Closs come
to this?"

"Hepworth, we will not discuss this subject. It is one which belongs
exclusively to Lady Hope and myself."

"But she is my sister!"

"Between a husband and wife no relative has claims."

"Lord Hope, I was once your friend."

"I have not forgotten it. Unfortunately for us both, you were. I do not
say this ungratefully. On the contrary, I am about to appeal to that old
friendship once more. You ask for my daughter. To give her to a brother
of Rachael Closs would be the bitterest insult I could offer the old