And then there were other considerations.

Mr Crosbie had not much certainly in his own possession, but he was a man out of whom something might be made by family influence and his own standing.

He was not a hopeless, ponderous man, whom no leaven could raise.

He was one of whose position in society the countess and her daughters need not be ashamed.

Lady de Courcy had given no expressed consent to the arrangement, but it had come to be understood between her and her daughter that the scheme was to be entertained as admissible.
Then came these tidings of the little girl down at Allington.