He had, as he had already told Mr.
Bolton, a small yearly income that he might with honesty call his own.

It was specially small on account of his mother's jointure having to be paid out of the estate also.

Of course he could not curtail that, nor would he desire to do so.

And, seeing how deeply dipped the estates were, he could, of course, only take as much as he could reasonably desire.

With his future wife's help, however, he felt the old property could be brought back in time to its former splendid position--to a position that he would be proud to see her the mistress of, etc.
There is always a good deal of humbug talked on these occasions.
Maurice, perhaps, talked very considerably less than most people; and, indeed, when he said he would gladly see her mistress of all he ought to have, he spoke something very near the truth.