This idea was strengthened by a short conversation with his father. He
had paid a visit to Lastingham with the double object of attending the
marriage of one of his sisters, and of trying to persuade the Earl to
pay some inconvenient debts. But the moment he mentioned, with due
caution, this second reason for his arrival, he found it a hopeless
cause. He represented that his income was small, and his prospects of
advancement extremely slender.

"Marry," said the Earl.

"Thank you. I would rather not. I want to get rid of my incumbrances,
not to increase them."

"Marry," repeated the Earl.

"But whom?" asked his son, staggered by this oracular response.

"Miss Drummond."

"She's fifty, at least."

"And has a hundred thousand pounds."

"She would not have me."

"You are growing modest."

"Not in that respect. She has refused half-a-dozen offers every season
for the last twenty years."