The
elder brother, who was considerably older than Frank, was an odd
man, much addicted to quarreling with his family, and who spent
his time chiefly in traveling about the world. Frank's mother, who
was not the mother of the heir also, would sometimes surmise in
Frank's hearing, that the entire property must ultimately come to
him. That other Tregear, who was now supposed to be investigating
the mountains of Crim Tartary, would surely never marry. And Frank
was the favourite also with his father, who paid his debts at
Oxford with not much grumbling, who was proud of his friendship
with a future duke, who did not urge, as he ought to have urged,
that vital question of a profession; and who, when he allowed his
son four hundred pounds a year, was almost content with that son's
protestations that he knew how to live as a poor man among rich
men, without chagrin and without trouble.
Such was the young man who now, in lieu of a profession, had taken
upon himself the responsibility of an engagement with Lady Mary
Palliser. He was tolerably certain that, should he be able to
overcome the parental obstacles which he would no doubt find in
his path, money would be forthcoming sufficient for the purposes
of matrimonial life.
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