Very young she was not,--having reached some years of her life in advance of thirty; but then, neither was the Honourable George very young; and in this respect the two were not ill-sorted.

The lady's money had not been very much,--perhaps thirty thousand pounds or so.

But then the Honourable George's money had been absolutely none.

Now he had an income on which he could live, and therefore his father and mother had forgiven him all his sins, and taken him again to their bosom.

And the marriage was matter of great moment, for the elder scion of the house had not yet taken to himself a wife, and the de Courcy family might have to look to this union for an heir.