"No, I know you," Lady Tancred said, "but I cannot agree with you about
its being a pity that she is rich. We live in an age when the oldest and
most honored name is useless without money to keep up its traditions,
and any woman would find your title and your position well worth all her
gold. There are things you will give her in return which only hundreds
of years can produce. You must have no feeling that you are accepting
anything from her which you do not equalize. Remember, it is a false
sentiment."

"Oh, I expect so--and she is well bred, you know, so she won't throw it
in my teeth." And Lord Tancred smiled.

"I remember old Colonel Grey," his mother continued; "years ago he drove
a coach; but I don't recollect his brother. Did he live abroad,
perhaps?"

This was an awkward question. The young fiancé was quite ignorant about
his prospective bride's late father!

"Yes," he said hurriedly. "Zara married very young, she is quite young
now--only about twenty-three. Her husband was a brute, and now she has
come to live with Francis Markrute. He is an awfully good fellow,
Mother, though you don't like him; extremely cultivated, and so quaintly
amusing, with his cynical views on life. You will like him when you know
him better. He is a jolly good sportsman, too--for a foreigner."

"And of what nation is Mr. Markrute, Tristram, do you know?" Lady
Tancred asked.