“You have refinement and good taste, mother.”

“I know it; that and this inheritance and the title.”

“Isn’t that ‘protection’ enough? I really fail to see — Whatever would please you would be right. You may have what friendships you — ”

“Not at all, David. Everything is iron-bound. They are simply watching lest we bring a lot of common people in our train. Things grow worse and worse in that way. There are so many rich tradespeople who are struggling to get in, and clinging desperately to the skirts of the poorer nobility. Of course, it all goes to show what a tremendous thing good birth is, and the iron laws of custom are, after all, a proper safeguard and should be respected.