The screw below them rushed round, worming its angry way through the long quiet waves.
"Barker," said Claudius, "was saying that he supposed he would be married some day--delivered up to torture, as he expressed it--and the Duke undertook to prophesy and draw a picture of Barker's future spouse.
The picture was not attractive." "Did Mr.Barker think so too ?" "Yes.

He seemed to regard the prospects of matrimony from a resigned and melancholy point of view.

I suppose he might marry any one he chose in his own country, might he not ?" "In the usual sense, yes," answered Margaret.
"What is the 'usual sense' ?" asked the Doctor.
"He might marry beauty, wealth, and position.

That is the usual meaning of marrying whom you please." "Oh! then it does not mean any individual he pleases ?" "Certainly not.

It means that out of half a dozen beautiful, rich, and accomplished girls it is morally certain that one, at least, would take him for his money, his manners, and his accomplishments." "Then he would go from one to the other until he was accepted?
A charming way of doing things, upon my word!" And Claudius sniffed the night air discontentedly.
"Oh no," said Margaret.