Who is to tell a Lord Fawn how much per annum he ought to regard himself as worth?
He had, on one or two occasions, asked a high price, but no previous bargain had been made.
No doubt he had come down a little in his demand in suggesting a matrimonial arrangement to a widow with a child, and with only four thousand a year.

Whether or no that income was hers in perpetuity, or only for life, he had not positively known when he made his offer.
The will made by Sir Florian Eustace did not refer to the property at all.

In the natural course of things, the widow would only have a life-interest in the income.

Why should Sir Florian make away, in perpetuity, with his family property?
Nevertheless, there had been a rumour abroad that Sir Florian had been very generous; that the Scotch estate was to go to a second son in the event of there being a second son;--but that otherwise it was to be at the widow's own disposal.

No doubt, had Lord Fawn been persistent, he might have found out the exact truth.