But the wall of habit once breached, the citadel of conscience laid bare, what garrison was revealed?
With something like astonishment, Richard came to recognise that the garrison was of the most contemptible and tatterdemalion description.

Fear of people's talk--absolutely nothing else stood in his way.
Had he, then, no affection for Emma?
Hardly a scrap.

He had never even tried 'to persuade himself that he was in love with her, and the engagement had on his side been an affair of cool reason.

His mother had practically brought it about; for years it had been a pet project of hers, and her joy was great in its realisation.

Mrs.Vine and she had been lifelong gossips; she knew that to Emma had descended the larger portion of her parent's sterling qualities, and that Emma was the one wife for such a man as Richard.