"He won't care about that."

"But he may perhaps think that a little patience will do us good. You
will have to soften him." Then Silverbridge told all that he knew
about himself. He was to be married in May, was to go to Matching for
a week or two after his wedding, was then to see the Session to an
end, and after that to travel with his wife in the United States. "I
don't suppose we shall be allowed to run about the world together so
soon as that," said Tregear, "but I am too well satisfied with my
day's work to complain."

"Did he say what he meant to give her?"

"Oh dear no;--nor even that he meant to give her anything. I should
not dream of asking a question about it. Nor when he makes any
proposition shall I think of having any opinion of my own."

"He'll make it all right;--for her sake, you know."

"My chief object as regards him, is that he should not think that I
have been looking after her money. Well; good-bye. I suppose we shall
all meet at dinner?"

When Tregear left him, Silverbridge went to his father's room. He
was anxious that they should understand each other as to Mary's
engagement.

"I thought you were at the House," said the Duke.

"I was going there, but I met Tregear at the door. He tells me you
have accepted him for Mary."

"I wish that he had never seen her. Do you think that a man can be
thwarted in everything and not feel it?"

"I thought--you had reconciled yourself--to Isabel."

"If it were that alone I could do so the more easily, because
personally she wins upon me. And this man, too;--it is not that I
find fault with himself."

"He is in all respects a high-minded gentleman."

"I hope so. But yet, had he a right to set his heart there, where he
could make his fortune,--having none of his own?"

"He did not think of that."

"He should have thought of it. A man does not allow himself to love
without any consideration or purpose. You say that he is a gentleman.
A gentleman should not look to live on means brought to him by a
wife. You say that he did not."

"He did not think of it."

"A gentleman should do more than not think of it. He should think
that it shall not be so. A man should own his means or should earn
them."

"How many men, sir, do neither?"

"Yes; I know," said the Duke. "Such a doctrine nowadays is caviare
to the general. One must live as others live around one, I suppose.
I could not see her suffer. It was too much for me. When I became
convinced