And he
has property of his own besides which he can settle. So,
you see, he is quite as well off as Mr Oriel; better,
indeed; and if a man is in a profession, I believe it is
considered that it does not much matter what. Of course, a
clergyman can be a bishop; but then, I think I have heard
that one attorney did once become Lord Chancellor. I
should have my carriage, you know; I remember his saying
that, especially, though I cannot recollect how he brought
it in.

I told him, at last, that I was so much taken by surprise
that I could not give him an answer then. He was going
up to London, he said, on the next day, and might he
be permitted to address me on the same subject when he
returned? I could not refuse him, you know; and so now I
have taken the opportunity of his absence to write to you
for your advice. You understand the world so very well,
and know so exactly what one ought to do in such a strange
position!

I hope I have made it intelligible, at least, as to what
I have written about. I have said nothing as to my own
feelings, because I wish you to think on the matter
without consulting them. If it would be derogatory to
accept Mr Gazebee, I certainly would not do so because I
happen to like him. If we were to act in that way, what
would the world come to, Amelia? Perhaps my ideas may be
overstrained; if so, you will tell me.

When Mr Oriel proposed for Beatrice, nobody seemed to make
any objection. It all seemed to go as a matter of course.
She says that his family is excellent; but as far as I can
learn, his grandfather was a general in India, and came
home very rich. Mr Gazebee's grandfather was a member of
the firm, and so, I believe, was his great-grandfather.
Don't you think this ought to count for something?
Besides, they have no business except with the most
aristocratic persons, such as uncle de Courcy, and the
Marquis of Kensington Gore, and that sort. I mention the
marquis, because Mr Mortimer Gazebee is there now. And I
know that one of the Gumptions was once in Parliament; and
I don't think that any of the Oriels ever were. The name
of attorney is certainly very bad, is it not, Amelia? but
they certainly do not seem to be all the same, and I do
think that this ought to make a difference. To hear Mr
Mortimer Gazebee talk of some attorney at Barchester, you
w