Lady  Westborough  stood  quite  erect  and  still,  and  drawing
her  stately  figure  to  its  full  height,  said  with  that  quiet  dignity
by  which  a  woman  so  often  stills  the  angrier  passions  of  men,
"I  lay  the  prayer  and  command  of  a  mother  upon  you,  Lord
Ulswater,  and  on  you,  sir,  whatever  be  your  real  rank  and
name,  not  to  make  mine  and  my  daughter's  presence  the  scene
of  a  contest  which  dishonors  both.  Still  farther,  if  Lady
Flora's  hand  and  my  approval  be  an  object  of  desire  to  either,
I  make  it  a  peremptory  condition,  with  both  of  you,  that  a
dispute  already  degrading  to  her  name  pass  not  from  word  to
act.  For  you,  Mr.  Linden,  if  so  I  may  call  you,  I  promise
that  my  daughter  shall  be  left  free  and  unbiased  to  give
that  reply  to  your  singular -conduct  which  I  doubt  not  her
own  dignity  and  sense  will  suggest !  "

"By  Heaven!"  exclaimed  Lord  Ulswater,  utterly  beside
himself  with  rage  which,  suppressed  at  the  beginning  of  Lady
Westborough's  speech,  had  been  kindled  into  double  fury  by
its  conclusion,  "  you  will  not  suffer  Lady  Flora,  no,  nor  any
one  but  her  affianced  bridegroom,  her  only  legitimate  defender,
to  answer  this  arrogant  intruder  !  You  cannot  think  that  her
hand,  the  hand  of  my  future  wife,  shall  trace  line  or  word  to
one  who  has  so  insulted  her  with  his  addresses  and  me  with
his  rivalry."

**  Man  ! "  cried  Clarence,  abruptly,  and  seizing  Lord  Ulswater
fiercely  by  the  arm,  "  there  are  some  causes  which  will  draw
fire  from  ice — beware — beware  how  you  incense  me  to  pollute
my  soul  with  the  blood  of  a "

"  What !  "  exclaimed  Lord  Ulswater.
