This hardly constituted a reason for being fond of Lucia.
His grandfather had wished him to be fond of her.

But not until Jewdwine was five and twenty and began to feel the primordial manhood stirring in his scholarly blood did he perceive that his cousin Lucia was not a hindrance but a way.

The way was so obvious that it was no wonder that he did not see it all at once.

He did not really see it till Sir Joseph sent for him on his death-bed.
"There's been some mistake, Horace," Sir Joseph had then said.

"Your mother should have been the boy and your uncle Frederick the girl.
Then Lucia would have been a Jewdwine, and you a Harden." And Horace had said, "I'm afraid I can't be a Harden, sir; but is there any reason why Lucia-- ?" "I was coming to that," said Sir Joseph.