‘Of course she would feel that.’

’Now I have told you what she said, and I hope you will ask me no further questions about her.  I cannot make Lady Mabel my wife;—–­ though, for the matter of that I ought not to presume that she would take me if I wished it.  I had intended to ask you today to consent to my marriage with Miss Boncassen.’

‘I cannot give you my consent.’

‘Then I am very unhappy.’

’How can I believe as to your unhappiness when you would have said the same about Lady Mabel Grex a few weeks ago?’

‘Nearly eight months,’ said Silverbridge.

’What is the difference?  It is not the time, but the disposition of the man!  I cannot give you my consent.  The young lady sees it in the right light, and that will make your escape easy.’

‘I do not want to escape.’

‘She has indicated the cause which will separate you.’

‘I will not be separated from her,’ said Silverbridge, who was beginning to feel that he was subjugated to tyranny.  If he chose to marry Isabel, no one could have a right to hinder him.

’I can only hope that you will think the better of it, and that when next you speak to me on that or on any other subject you will answer me with less arrogance.’

This rebuke was terrible to the son, whose mind at the present moment was filled with two ideas, that of constancy to Isabel Boncassen, and then of respect and affection for his father.  ‘Indeed, sir,’ he said, ’I am not arrogant, and if I have answered improperly I beg your pardon.  But my mind is made up about this, and I thought you had better know how it is.’

‘I do not see that I can say anything else to you.’

‘I think of going to Harrington this afternoon.’  Then the Duke with further very visible annoyance, asked where Harrington was. it was explained that Harrington was Lord Chiltern’s seat, Lord Chiltern being the Master of the Brake hounds;—­that it was his son’s purpose to remain six weeks among the Brake hounds, but that he should stay only a day of two with Lord Chiltern.  Then it appeared that Silverbridge intended to put himself up at a hunting inn in the neighbourhood, and the Duke did not at all like the plan.  That his son should choose to live at an inn, when the comforts of an English country house were open to him, was distasteful and almost offensive to the Duke.  And the matter was not improved when he was made to understand that all this was to be done for the sake of hunting.  There had been the shooting in Scotland; then the racing;—­ah alas yes;—­the racing, and the betting at Doncaster!  Then the shooting at Matching had been made to appear to be the chief reason why he himself had been living in his own house!  And now his son was going away to live at an inn in order that more time might be devoted to hunting!  ’Why can’t you live here at home, if you must hunt?’

‘It is all woodland,’ said Silverbridge.