comforts of a good income, and he was sufficiently attached to
high position to feel the advantage of marrying a daughter of the
Duke of Omnium.

There was one member of the family who had hitherto been half-
hearted in the matter. Lord Silverbridge had vacillated between
loyalty to his friend and a certain feeling as to the impropriety
of such a match for his sister. He was aware that something very
much better should be expected for her, and still was unable to
explain his objection to Tregear. He had not at first been
admitted into confidence, either by his sister or by Tregear, but
had questioned his friend when he saw what was going on.
'Certainly I love your sister,' Tregear had said; 'do you object?'
Lord Silverbridge was the weaker of the two, and much subject to
the influence of his friend; but he could on occasion be firm, and
he did at first object. But he did not object strongly, and
allowed himself at last to be content with declaring that the Duke
would never give his consent.

While Tregear was with his love, or near her, his hopes and fears
were sufficient to occupy his mind; and immediately upon his
return, all the world was nothing to him, except as far as the
world was concerned with Lady Mary Palliser. He had come back to
England somewhat before the ducal party, and the pleasures and
occupations of London life had not abated his love, but enabled
him to feel that there was something in life over and beyond his
love, whereas to Lady Mary, down at Matching, there had been
nothing over and beyond her love--except the infinite grief and
desolation produced by her mother's death.