His hand is simply made a cat's-paw of.

The matter is entirely a business transaction, entered into by the parent and conducted through regular marriage brokers.

In it he plays only the part of a marionette.

His revenge for being thus bartered out of what might be the better half of his life, he takes eventually on the next succeeding generation.
His death may be said to be the most important act of his whole life.
For then only can his personal existence be properly considered to begin.

By it he joins the great company of ancestors who are to these people of almost more consequence than living folk, and of much more individual distinction.