In the end, however, Mr.Johnson, who saw, too plainly, that opposition on his part would be of no avail, yielded a kind of forced consent that the plodding, behind-the-age young merchant, should lead Flora to the altar.

That his daughter should be content with such a man, was to him a source of deep mortification.

His own expectations in regard to her had been of a far higher character.
"He'll never set the world on fire;" "A man of no enterprise;" "A dull plodder;" with similar allusions to his son-in-law, were overheard by Mr.Johnson on the night of the wedding party, and added no little to the ill-concealed chagrin from which he suffered.
They were made by individuals who belonged to the new school of business men, of whom Mortimer was a representative.

He, too, was present.

His disappointment in not obtaining the hand of Flora, had been solaced in the favor of one whose social standing and money-value was regarded as considerably above that of the maiden who had declined the offer of his hand.