The Duke's wealth was fabulous, and as a
great part of it, if not the greater, had come from his wife,
there would probably be ample provision for the younger children.
And when the Duchess had found out how things were going, and had
yielded to her daughter, after an opposition which never had the
appearance even of being in earnest, she had taken upon herself to
say that she would use her influence to prevent any great weight
of trouble from pecuniary matters. Frank Tregear, young and
bright, and full of hearty ambitions, was certainly not the man to
pursue a girl simply because of her fortune; nor was he weak
enough to be attracted simply by the glitter of rank; but he was
wise enough with worldly wisdom to understand thoroughly the
comforts of a good income, and he was sufficiently attached to
high position to feel the advantage of marrying a daughter of the
Duke of Omnium.
There was one member of the family who had hitherto been half-
hearted in the matter. Lord Silverbridge had vacillated between
loyalty to his friend and a certain feeling as to the impropriety
of such a match for his sister.
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