He had told himself a hundred times that under no circumstances could he marry any other than a lady of good birth.

But his own fortune was small, and he knew himself well enough to be sure that he would not marry for money.

He was now nearly forty years of age and had never yet been thrown into the society of any one that had attracted him.

He was sure that he would not marry.

And yet when he saw that Mr.Twentyman was made much of and flattered by the whole Masters family, apparently because he was regarded as an eligible husband for Mary, Reginald Morton was not only disgusted, but personally offended.