Patience Sparhawk and her Times

The evening mail brought from Mrs. Peele to her son a note which he read with a rumbling accompaniment, then tossed to Patience.

"Do you intend to permit your wife to disgrace your family? " it read. "If I had my way that abominable paper, the ‘Day,' should never enter this house-nor any other paper that dealt in personalities. I literally writhe every time I see my name-your father's honoured name-in the society columns. You may, then, perhaps, imagine my feelings when your father handed me the ‘Day' this morning with his finger on that outrageous column. He was speechless with wrath, and will personally call Mr. Field to account. I am in bed with a violent headache, in consequence, and dictating this letter to Honora. But although I deeply feel for you, my beloved son, I must _insist_ that you assert your authority with your wrong-headed wife and command her to refrain from disgracing this family. I don't wish to reproach you, but I cannot help saying that it is _always_ a dangerous experiment to marry beneath one.