His hawk's eyes were shadowed, as though he sat up very late at night; which indeed he did.

For John Derringham, at this period of his life, burnt the candle at both ends and in the middle, too, if it could add to the pleasure or benefit of his calculated career, mapped out for himself by himself.
A sensation almost of wrath rose in his breast at his old master's words.

These ignorant country people, to dare to criticise his glittering golden pheasant, whom he was very nearly making up his mind to take for a wife! This aspect of the case, that even these unimportant old ladies could question the position of his choice, galled him.

He had spent up to the last penny of his diminished income in his years of man's estate, and Derringham was mortgaged to its furthest acre--and a gentleman must live--and with his brilliant political future expanding before him, lack of means must not be allowed to stand in his way.

He would give this woman in gratified ambition as much or more than she would give him in wealth, so it would be an equal bargain and benefit them both.