第164章 CHAPTER XXXVI(5)

"I fear in this my novel position I am somewhat slow of comprehension.Would it be so great a misfortune to your daughter if I made her Viscountess Ravenel,and in course of time Countess of Luxmore?""I believe it would.Her mother and I would rather see our little Maud lying beside her sister Muriel than see her Countess of Luxmore."These words,hard as they were,John uttered so softly and with such infinite grief and pain,that they struck the young man,not with anger,but with an indefinite awe,as if a ghost from his youth--his wasted youth--had risen up to point out that truth,and show him that what seemed insult or vengeance was only a bitter necessity.

All he did was to repeat,in a subdued manner--"Your reasons?""Ah,Lord Ravenel!"John answered sadly,"do you not see yourself that the distance between us and you is wide as the poles?Not in worldly things,but in things far deeper;--personal things,which strike at the root of love,home--nay,honour."Lord Ravenel started."Would you imply that anything in my past life,aimless and useless as it may have been,is unworthy of my honour--the honour of our house?"Saying this he stopped--recoiled--as if suddenly made aware by the very words himself had uttered,what--contrasted with the unsullied dignity of the tradesman's life,the spotless innocence of the tradesman's daughter--what a foul tattered rag,fit to be torn down by an honest gust,was that flaunting emblazonment,the so-called "honour"of Luxmore!

"I understand you now.'The sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children,'as your Bible says--your Bible,that I had half begun to believe in.Be it so.Mr.Halifax,I will detain you no longer.

John intercepted the young man's departure.

"No,you do NOT understand me.I hold no man accountable for any errors,any shortcomings,except his own.""I am to conclude,then,that it is to myself you refuse your daughter?""It is."

Lord Ravenel once more bowed,with sarcastic emphasis.

"I entreat you not to mistake me,"John continued,most earnestly.

"I know nothing of you that the world would condemn,much that it would even admire;but your world is not our world,nor your aims our aims.If I gave you my little Maud,it would confer on you no lasting happiness,and it would be thrusting my child,my own flesh and blood,to the brink of that whirlpool where,soon or late,every miserable life must go down."Lord Ravenel made no answer.His new-born energy,his pride,his sarcasm,had successively vanished;dead,passive melancholy resumed its empire over him.Mr.Halifax regarded him with mournful compassion.

"Oh,that I had foreseen this!I would have placed the breadth of all England between you and my child.""Would you?"

"Understand me.Not because you do not possess our warm interest,our friendship:both will always be yours.But these are external ties,which may exist through many differences.In marriage there must he perfect unity;one aim,one faith,one love,or the marriage is incomplete,unholy--a mere civil contract and no more."Lord Ravenel looked up amazed at this doctrine,then sat awhile pondering drearily.