although there were one or two who might, in some weak moments, have
compromised with his millions, he did no more than saunter with them on
the terrace and oppress them with his lisping egotism. Every one hinted
that he seemed an estimable, but trying, young man; and, as Sir Duke said
to his wife, the men would not have him at any price.

As for Mr. Vandewaters and Gracia Raglan, Lady Lawless was not very sure
that her delicate sympathy was certain of reward. The two were naturally
thrown together a good deal; but Miss Raglan was a girl of singular
individuality and high-mindedness, and she was keen enough to see from
the start what Lady Lawless suspected might happen. She did not resent
this,--she was a woman; but it roused in her a spirit of criticism, and
she threw up a barrier of fine reserve, which puzzled Mr. Vandewaters. He
did not see that Lady Lawless was making a possible courtship easy for
him. If he had, it would have made no difference: he would have looked at
it as at most things, broadly. He was not blind to the fact that his
money might be a "factor", but, as he said to himself, his millions were
a part of him--they represented, like whist-counters, so much pluck and
mother-wit. He liked the general appreciation of them: he knew very well
that people saw him in them and them in him. Miss Raglan attracted him
from the moment of meeting. She was the first woman of her class that he
had ever met closely; and the possibility of having as his own so
adorable a comrade was inspiring. He sat down sometimes as the days went
on--it was generally when he was shaving--and thought upon his intention
regarding Miss Raglan, in relation to his humble past; for he had fully
made up his mind to marry her, if she would have him. He wondered what
she would think when he told her of his life; and he laughed at the
humour of the situation. He had been into Debrett, and he knew that she
could trace her family back to the Crusades.