She was a white character; but even the whiteness of ermine gains
by being necked with blackness. "How can he treat me with so
little consideration? It is just as if he had said: 'Good morning,
mother. I am going to disgrace the family by my marriage, but I
know you will be delighted---good morning.'"

"You forget that Dent does not think he will disgrace the family.
He said you would be proud of her."

"Well, when the day comes for me to be proud of this, there will
not be much left to be ashamed of. Rowan, for once I shall
interfere."

"How can you interfere?"

"Then you must: you are his guardian."

"I shall not be his guardian by the autumn. Dent has arranged this
perfectly, mother, as he always arranges everything."

She returned to her point. "But he _must_ be kept from making such
a mistake! Talk to him as a man. Advise him, show him that he
will tie a millstone around his neck, ruin his whole life. I am
willing to leave myself out and to forget what is due me, what is
due you, what is due the memory of his father and of my father: for
his own sake he must not marry this girl."

He shook his head slowly. "It is settled, mother," he added
consolingly, "and I have so much confidence in Dent that I believe
what he says: we shall be proud of her when we know her."