and
the father with many protestations of personal goodwill, had declared
that in such a matter he would not attempt to bias his daughter. "That
the connection would be personally agreeable to myself, I need hardly
say," said the Dean. "For myself, I have no objection to raise. But I
must leave it to Mary. I can only say that you have my permission to
address her." But the first appeal to Mary was made by her father
himself, and was so made in conformity with his own advice. Lord
George, when he left the deanery, had thus arranged it, but had been
hardly conscious that the Dean had advised such an arrangement. And it
may be confessed between ourselves,--between me and my readers, who in
these introductory chapters may be supposed to be looking back together
over past things,--that the Dean was from the first determined that
Lord George should be his son-in-law. What son-in-law could he find
that would redound more to his personal credit, or better advance his
personal comfort. As to his daughter, where could a safer husband be
found! And then she might in this way become a marchioness! His own
father had kept livery stables at Bath. Her other grandfather had been
a candlemaker in the Borough. "What ought I to do, papa?" Mary asked,
when the proposition was first made to her. She of course admired the
Germains, and appreciated, at perhaps more than its full value the
notice she had received from them. She had thought Lord George to be
the handsomest man she had ever seen. She had heard of his love for
Miss De Baron, and had felt for him. She was not as yet old enough to
know how dull was the house at Manor Cross, or how little of resource
she might find in the companionship of such a man as Lord George. Of
her own money she knew almost nothing. Not as yet had her fortune
become as a carcase to the birds. And now, should she decide in Lord
George's favour, would she be saved at any rate from that danger.

"You must consult your own feelings, my dear," said her father. She
looked up to him in blank dismay. She had as yet no feelings.

"But, papa----"

"Of course, my darling, there is a great deal to be said in favour of
such a marriage. The man himself is excellent,--in all respects
excellent. I do not know that there is a young man of higher principles
than Lord George in the whole county."

"He is hardly a young man, papa."

"Not a young man! He is thirty. I hope you do not call that old. I
doubt whether men in his