as much regarded in their rights of descent as rams and poodles?"

"You forget that the first families in all civilizations have kept
themselves alive and at the summit by intermarriage with good,
clean, rich blood of people whom they have considered beneath them."

"But certainly my family is not among these. It is certainly alive
and it is certainly not dying out. I cannot discuss the subject
with you, if you once begin that argument. Are you going to call
on her?"

"Certainly. It was Dent's wish and it is right that I should."

"Then I think I shall go with you, Rowan. Dent said she was coming
to see me; but I think I should rather go to see her. Whenever I
wished to leave, I could get away, but if she came here, I
couldn't."

"When should you like to go?"

"Oh, don't hurry me! I shall need time--a great deal of time! Do
you suppose they have a parlor? I am afraid I shall not shine in
the kitchen in comparison with the tins."

She had a wry face; then her brow cleared and she added with relief:

"But I must put this whole trouble out of my mind at present! It
is too close to me, I cannot even see it. I shall call on the girl
with you and then I shall talk quietly with Dent. Until then I
must try to forget it. Besides, I got up this morning with