Forgive me this digression.

My uncle went on (as my aunt told me), 'That, besides his paternal
estate, he was the immediate heir to very splendid fortunes: that,
when he was in treaty for his niece Arabella, Lord M. told him (my
uncle) what great things he and his two half-sisters intended to do
for him, in order to qualify him for the title, which would be extinct
at his Lordship's death, and which they hoped to procure for him, or a
still higher, that of those ladies' father, which had been for some
time extinct on failure of heirs male: that it was with this view that
his relations were all so earnest for his marrying: that as he saw not
where Mr. Lovelace could better himself; so, truly, he thought there
was wealth enough in their own family to build up three considerable
ones: that, therefore, he must needs say, he was the more desirous of
this alliance, as there was a great probability, not only from Mr.
Lovelace's descent, but from his fortunes, that his niece Clarissa
might one day be a peeress of Great Britain:--and, upon that prospect
[here was the mortifying stroke], he should, for his own part, think
it not wrong to make such dispositions as should contribute to the
better support of the dignity.'

My uncle Harlowe, it seems, far from disapproving of what his brother
had said, declared, 'That there was but one objection to an alliance
with Mr. Lovelace; to wit, his faulty morals: especially as so much
could be done for Miss Bella, and for my brother too, by my father;
and as my brother was actually possessed of a considerable estate by
virtue of the deed of gift and will of his godmother Lovell.'

Had I known this before, I should the less have wondered at many
things I have been unable to account for in my brother's and sister's