On account of her he was anxious concerning money affairs, which he would never alarm his mind about otherwise.

The reason he gave was that, as she had nobody to depend upon for a provision but himself, he wished her, when he was gone, to be securely out of risk of poverty.
To this Mrs.Melbury replied that Grace would be sure to marry well, and that hence a hundred pounds more or less from him would not make much difference.
Her husband said that that was what she, Mrs.Melbury, naturally thought; but there she was wrong, and in that lay the source of his trouble.

"I have a plan in my head about her," he said; "and according to my plan she won't marry a rich man." "A plan for her not to marry well ?" said his wife, surprised.
"Well, in one sense it is that," replied Melbury.

"It is a plan for her to marry a particular person, and as he has not so much money as she might expect, it might be called as you call it.

I may not be able to carry it out; and even if I do, it may not be a good thing for her.
I want her to marry Giles Winterborne." His companion repeated the name.