For some weeks previous to his offer he had
been aware that Lady Eardham had been angling for him as for a fish,
that he had been as a prey to her and to her daughter, and that it
behoved him to amuse himself without really taking the hook between
his gills. He had taken the hook, and now had totally forgotten all
those former notions of his in regard to a prey, and a fish, and a
mercenary old harridan of a mother. He had no sooner been kissed all
round by the women, and paternally blessed by Sir George, than he
thought that he had exercised a sound judgment, and had with true
wisdom arranged to ally himself with just the woman most fit to be
his wife, and the future mistress of Newton Priory. He was proud,
indeed, of his success, when he read the paragraph in the "Morning
Post," announcing as a fact that the alliance had been arranged, and
was again able to walk about among his comrades as one of those who
make circumstances subject to them, rather than become subject to
circumstances. His comrades, no doubt, saw the matter in another
light. "By Jove," said Pretty Poll at his club, "there's Newton been
and got caught by old Eardham after all. The girl has been running
ten years, and been hawked about like a second-class race-horse."

"Yes, poor fellow," said Captain Fooks. "Neefit has done that
for him. Ralph for a while was so knocked off his pins by the
breeches-maker, that he didn't know where to look for shelter."

Whether marriages should be made in heaven or on earth, must be
a matter of doubt to observers;--whether, that is, men and women
are best married by chance, which I take to be the real fashion of
heaven-made marriages; or should be brought into that close link and
loving bondage to each other by thought, selection, and decision.
That the heavenly mode prevails the oftenest there can hardly be a
doubt. It takes years to make a friendship; but a marriage may be
settled in a week,--in an hour. If you desire to go into partnership
with a man in business, it is an essential necessity that you should
know your partner; that he be honest,--or dishonest, if such be your
own tendency,--industrious, instructed in the skill required, and of
habits of life fit for the work to be done. But into partnerships for
life,--of a kind much closer than any business partnership,--men rush
without any preliminary inquiries. Some investigation and anxiety as
to means there may be, though in this respect the ordinary parlance