I 've discovered that that young upstart of a son of yours , who ought to be in short trousers yet , has been courting my niece , Madge Oliver , all summer . He has had the impudence to tell me that he wants to marry her . I wo n't have it , I tell you , and you can tell your son so . Marry my niece indeed ! A pretty pass the world is coming to ! I 'll never consent to it . '' Perhaps if you had searched Greenwood and all the adjacent districts thoroughly you might have found a man who was more astonished and taken aback than old John Ellis was at that moment , but I doubt it . The wind was completely taken out of his sails and every bit of the Ellis contrariness was roused . `` What have you got to say against my son ? '' he fairly shouted in his rage . `` Is n't he good enough for your girl , Susan Oliver , I 'd like to know ? '' `` No , he is n't , '' retorted Miss Susan deliberately and unflinchingly . `` He 's well enough in his place , but you 'll please to remember , John Ellis , that my niece is an Oliver , and the Olivers do n't marry beneath them . '' Old John was furious . `` Beneath them indeed ! Why , woman , it is condescension in my son to so much as look at your niece -- condescension , that is what it is . You are as poor as church mice . '' `` We come of good family , though , '' retorted Miss Susan . `` You Ellises are nobodies . Your grandfather was a hired man !
And yet you have the presumption to think you 're fit to marry into an old , respectable family like the XXXXX .
Ellis Ellises Greenwood John Oliver Olivers Susan contrariness nobodies upstart