his time chiefly in traveling about the world. Frank's mother, who
was not the mother of the heir also, would sometimes surmise in
Frank's hearing, that the entire property must ultimately come to
him. That other Tregear, who was now supposed to be investigating
the mountains of Crim Tartary, would surely never marry. And Frank
was the favourite also with his father, who paid his debts at
Oxford with not much grumbling, who was proud of his friendship
with a future duke, who did not urge, as he ought to have urged,
that vital question of a profession; and who, when he allowed his
son four hundred pounds a year, was almost content with that son's
protestations that he knew how to live as a poor man among rich
men, without chagrin and without trouble.

Such was the young man who now, in lieu of a profession, had taken
upon himself the responsibility of an engagement with Lady Mary
Palliser. He was tolerably certain that, should he be able to
overcome the parental obstacles which he would no doubt find in
his path, money would be forthcoming sufficient for the purposes
of matrimonial life. The Duke's wealth was fabulous, and as a
great part of it, if not the greater, had come from his wife,
there would probably be ample provision for the younger children.
And when the Duchess had found out how things were going, and had
yielded to her daughter, after an opposition which never had the
appearance even of being in earnest, she had taken upon herself to
say that she would use her influence to prevent any great weight
of trouble from pecuniary matters. Frank Tregear, young and
bright, and full of hearty ambitions, was certainly not the man to
pursue a girl simply because of her fortune; nor was he weak
enough to be attracted simply by the glitter of rank; but he was
wise enough with worldly wisdom to understand thoroughly the