here was no need why he
should regard himself as a poor man. Two things, no doubt, were
against his regarding himself as a rich man. Ever since he had
commenced life in London he had been more or less in debt; and then,
unfortunately, he had acquired a seat in Parliament at a period of
his career in which the dangers of such a position were greater than
the advantages. Nevertheless he could earn an income on which he and
his wife, were he to marry, could live in all comfort; and as to his
debts, if he would set his shoulder to the work they might be paid
off in a twelvemonth. There was nothing in the prospect which would
frighten Lucy, though there might be a question whether he possessed
the courage needed for so violent a change.

He had chambers in the Temple; he lived in rooms which he hired from
month to month in one of the big hotels at the West End; and he dined
at his club, or at the House, when he was not dining with a friend.
It was an expensive and a luxurious mode of life,--and one from
the effects of which a man is prone to drift very quickly into
selfishness. He was by no means given to drinking,--but he was
already learning to like good wine. Small economies in reference to
cab-hire, gloves, umbrellas, and railway fares were unknown to him.
Sixpences and shillings were things with which, in his mind, it was
grievous to have to burden the thoughts. The Greystocks had all lived
after that fashion. Even the dean himself was not free from the
charge of extravagance. All this Frank knew, and he did not hesitate
to tell himself, that he must make a great change if he meant to
marry Lucy Morris. And he was wise enough to know that the change
would become more difficult every day that it was postponed. Hitherto
the question had been an open question with him. Could it now be an
open question any longer? As a man of honour, was he not bound to
share his lot with Lucy Morris?

That evening,--that Saturday evening,--it so happened that he met
John Eustace at a club to which they both belonged, and they dined
together. They had long known each other, and had been thrown into
closer intimacy by the marriage between Sir Florian and Lizzie. John
Eustace had never been fond of Lizzie, and now, in truth, liked
her less than ever; but he did like Lizzie's cousin, and felt that
possibly Frank might be of use to him in the growing difficulty of
managing the heir's property and looking after the heir's interests.
"You've l