I have always had a fancy for wandering about the world, as my uncle did, and doing something to distinguish myself, instead of settling down for life to be a country magistrate and a squire.

Of course it came as a surprise, but I can assure you that it was not an altogether unpleasant one.

What can a man want more than a nice little estate of 500 pounds a year and 20,000 pounds in money ?" "It is all very well to say that, but as you said to me just now, you may see it in a different light some day." Then she sat thinking for some time.

"At any rate," she went on at last, "I don't see why anyone should know about it now.

If the house is to be shut up and you are going away, why need anyone know anything about it?
My father's wish was that I should not have people making love to me just because I was an heiress; after all that has been done, it would be wicked to go against his wishes.