is ridiculous. Archibald had undermined his constitution with
dissipation, and died following an operation for gravel. He was
to have succeeded to the title, as both of the Earl's legitimate
sons were dead without issue--one of them perished in the Boer
War, and the other was killed in the hunting field.

"Upon Archibald's death the old Earl publicly acknowledged
Reginald Maltravers, his natural son, and took steps to have him
legitimatized. For all of the bend sinister upon his escutcheon,
Reginald Maltravers was as fanatical concerning the family as his
father. Perhaps more fanatical, because he secretly suffered for
the irregularity of his own position in the world.

"At any rate, supported at first by the old Earl, he began a
series of persecutions designed to make me renounce my suffragist
principles, or at least to make me cease playing a conspicuous
public part in the militant propaganda. As my husband was dead
and there were no children, I could not see that I was
accountable to the Claiborne family for my actions. But the
Claibornes took a different view of it. In their philosophy,
once a Claiborne, always a Claiborne. I was bringing disgrace
and humiliation upon the family, in their opinion. Knowing the
old Earl as I do, I am aware that his suffering was genuine and
intense. But what was I to do? One cannot desert one's
principles merely because they cause suffering; otherwise there
could be no such thing as revolution.

"Reginald Maltravers had another reason for his persecution.
After the death of Sir Archibald he himself sought my hand in
marriage. I shall always remember the form of his proposal; it