Was it possible that his uncle, who was the proudest
man in England, should have condescended to make a bargain with an
old dowager whom everybody had despised? And in what way had he
been selected? No doubt he had been known to be the heir-apparent
to a dukedom and ducal reverence. In his case old Lady Midlothian
had begun the matter with him. It occurred to him that in royal
marriages such beginnings are quite common.
But who should be the happy man? Then he began to count up the
requisite attributes. He must be of high rank, and an eldest son,
and the possessor of, or the heir to a good estate. He did despise
himself when he found that he put these things first,--as a matter
of course. Nevertheless he did put them first. He was ejecting
this other man because he possessed none of these attributes. He
hurried himself on to add that the man must be of good character,
and such as a young girl might learn to love. But yet he was aware
that he added these things for his conscience's sake. Tregear's
character was good, and certainly the girl loved him.
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