Your daughter is betrothed to me, and I have come to claim from her the fulfilment of her promise." "For shame, Mr.Fitzgerald, for shame! When she was a child you extracted from her one word of folly; and now you would take advantage of that foolish word; now, when you know that she is engaged to a man she loves with the full consent of all her friends.
I thought I knew you well enough to feel sure that you were not so ungenerous." "Ungenerous! no; I have not that generosity which would enable me to give up my very heart's blood, the only joy of my soul, to such a one as my cousin Herbert." "You have nothing to give up, Mr.Fitzgerald: you must have known from the very first that my daughter could not marry you--" "Not marry me! And why not, Lady Desmond?
Is not my blood as good as his ?--unless, indeed, you are prepared to sell your child to the highest bidder!" "Clara, my dear, I think you had better leave the room," said the countess; "no doubt you have assured Mr.Fitzgerald that you are engaged to his cousin Herbert." "Yes, mamma." "Then he can have no further claim on your attendance, and his vehemence will terrify you." "Vehement! how can I help being vehement when, like a ruined gambler, I am throwing my last chance for such a stake ?" And then he intercepted Clara as she stepped towards the drawing-room door.

She stopped in her course, and stood still, looking down upon the ground.
"Mr.Fitzgerald," said the countess, "I will thank you to let Lady Clara leave the room.

She has given you the answer for which you have asked, and it would not be right in me to permit her to be subjected to further embarrassment." "I will only ask her to listen to one word.

Clara--" "Mr.Fitzgerald, you have no right to address my daughter with that freedom," said the countess; but Owen hardly seemed to hear her.
"I here, in your hearing, protest against your marriage with Herbert Fitzgerald.

I claim your love as my own.