affect admiration.

'Yes, my dear; and it is not the only kind thing I have done by him. I
have been a very liberal friend to Sir Edward; and, poor young man, he
needs it bad enough. For, though I am only the dowager, my dear, and he
is the heir, things do not stand between us in the way they usually do
between those two parties. Not a shilling do I receive from the Denham
estate. Sir Edward has no payments to make _me_. _He_ don't stand
uppermost, believe me; it is _I_ that help _him_.'

'Indeed! he is a very fine young man, and particularly elegant in his
address.'

This was said chiefly for the sake of saying something; but Charlotte
directly saw that it was laying her open to suspicion, by Lady Denham's
giving a shrewd glance at her, and replying,

'Yes, yes; he's very well to look at; and it is to be hoped that somebody
of large fortune will think so; for Sir Edward _must_ marry for money. He
and I often talk that matter over. A handsome young man like him will go
smirking and smiling about, and paying girls compliments, but he knows he
_must_ marry for money. And Sir Edward is a very steady young man, in
the main, and has got very good notions.'

'Sir Edward Denham,' said Charlotte, 'with such personal advantages, may
be almost sure of getting a woman of fortune, if he chooses it.'

This glorious sentiment seemed quite to remove suspicion.

'Aye, my dear, that is very sensibly said; and if we could but get a