He had not been in the habit of discussing such matters, but it seemed to him, that if Alaric was about to become in any legal manner the guardian of Miss Golightly's fortune, that that in itself was reason enough why he, Alaric, should not propose such a match as this.

Needy men, to be sure, did often marry rich ladies, and the world looked on and regarded it only as a matter of course; but surely it would be the duty of a guardian to protect his ward from such a fate, if it were in his power to do so.
Alaric, who saw something of what was going on in his cousin's mind, essayed to remove the impression which was thus made.
'Besides, you know, Clementina is no chicken.

Her fortune is at her own disposal.

All the guardians on earth cannot prevent her marrying you if she makes up her mind to do so.' Charley gulped down his glass of wine, and then sat staring at the fire, saying nothing further.

It was true enough that he was very poor--true enough that Miss Golightly's fortune would set him on his legs, and make a man of him--true enough, perhaps, that no other expedient of which he could think would do so.