How was he to bring her out into the world?
How was he to decide whom she should or whom she should not marry?
How was he to guide her through the shoals and rocks which lay in the path of such a girl before she can achieve matrimony?
It was the fate of the family that, with a world of acquaintance, they had not many friends.

From all close connection with relatives on the side of the Duchess they had been dissevered by old feelings at first, and afterwards by want of any similitude in the habits of life.

She had, when young, been repressed by male and female guardians with an iron hand.

Such repression had been needed, and had been perhaps salutary, but it had not left behind it much affection.
And then her nearest relatives were not sympathetic with the Duke.

He could obtain no assistance in the care of his girl from that source.
Nor could he even do it from his own cousins' wives, who were his nearest connections on the side of the Pallisers.