Before them was a long future, and she had all confidence in Philip.

Of late, there had been considerable doubts how far the elder Beaufort would realise the expectations in which his nephew had been reared.

Philip's younger brother had been much with the old gentleman, and appeared to be in high favour: this brother was a man in every respect the opposite to Philip--sober, supple, decorous, ambitious, with a face of smiles and a heart of ice.
But the old gentleman was taken dangerously ill, and Philip was summoned to his bed of death.

Robert, the younger brother, was there also, with his wife (who he had married prudently) and his children (he had two, a son and a daughter).

Not a word did the uncle say as to the disposition of his property till an hour before he died.