The idea of a marriage between his brother and his brother's old flame
was in every way distasteful to him. In the first place, under her
husband's will, Madeline would bring, comparatively speaking, relatively
little with her should she marry again. That was one objection. Another,
and still more forcible one from Sir Eustace's point of view, was that
at her time of life she was not likely to present the house of Peritt
with an heir. Now, Sir Eustace had not the slightest intention of
marrying. Matrimony was, he considered, an excellent institution, and
necessary to the carrying on of the world in a respectable manner, but
it was not one with which he was anxious to identify himself. Therefore,
if his brother married at all, it was his earnest desire that the union
should bring children to inherit the title and estates. Prominent above
both these excellent reasons, stood his intense distrust and dislike of
the lady.

Needs must, however, when the devil (by whom he understood Madeline)
drives. He was not going to quarrel with his only brother and
presumptive heir because he chose to marry a woman who was not to his
taste. So he shrugged his shoulders--having finished his shaving and his
reflections together--and determined to put the best possible face on
his disappointment.

"Well, George," he said to his brother at breakfast, "so you are going
to marry Lady Croston?"

Bottles looked up surprised. "Yes, Eustace," he answered, "if she will
marry me."