In his sons hitherto he had not taken pride.

They were gallant, well-grown, handsome boys, with a certain dash of cleverness,--more like their mother than their father; but they had not as yet done anything as he would have had them do it.

But the girl, in the perfection of her beauty, in the quiescence of her manner, in the nature of her studies, and in the general dignity of her bearing, had seemed to be all that he had desired.

And now she had engaged herself, behind his back, to the younger son of a little county squire! But his anger against Mrs.Finn was hotter than his anger against any one in his own family..