Mary, it is true, had no fortune.

But Sir Louis knew that she was acknowledged to be a lady; and he was ambitious that his "lady" should be a lady.
There was also much to recommend Mary to the mother, to any mother; and thus it came to pass, that Miss Thorne had no obstacle between her and the dignity of being Lady Scatcherd the second;--no obstacle whatever, if only she could bring herself to wish it.
It was some time--two or three weeks, perhaps--before Mary's mind was first opened to this new brilliancy in her prospects.

Sir Louis at first was rather afraid of her, and did not declare his admiration in any very determined terms.

He certainly paid her many compliments which, from any one else, she would have regarded as abominable.
But she did not expect great things from the baronet's taste: she concluded that he was only doing what he thought a gentleman should do; and she was willing to forgive much for Lady Scatcherd's sake.
His first attempts were, perhaps, more ludicrous than passionate.

He was still too much an invalid to take walks, and Mary was therefore saved from his company in her rambles; but he had a horse of his own at Boxall Hill, and had been advised to ride by the doctor.