A mere selfish, superficial, speculating man of the world.

While she had a heart capable of the deepest and truest affection.

Would he make the fitting complement to her life?
Alas! No! That were a thing impossible.
During the few months that preceded this marriage, I often heard its promise discussed by my wife and Mrs.Dean, neither of whom had any strong liking for the young New York merchant.
"It's my opinion," said Mrs.Dean, as she sat with my wife one evening, about two months after the engagement had taken place, "that Ralph has more froth than substance about him.

He really talks, sometimes, as if he had the world in a sling and could toss it up among the stars.

As far as my observation goes, such people flourish only for a season." "If Delia were a child of mine," said my good Constance, in her earnest way, "I would a thousand times rather trust her with Henry Wallingford than with Ralph Dewey." "Yes, and a thousand millions of times," responded Mrs.Dean.