They were both conscious of being strongly prejudiced in Frank's favor.
His father's eccentric conduct had made the lad the object of their compassion and their care from his earliest years.

He (and his younger brothers) had almost filled the places to them of those other children of their own whom they had lost.

Although they firmly believed their good opinion of Frank to be well founded--still, in the interest of their daughter's happiness, it was necessary to put that opinion firmly to the proof, by fixing certain conditions, and by interposing a year of delay between the contemplated marriage and the present time.
During that year, Frank was to remain at the office in London; his employers being informed beforehand that family circumstances prevented his accepting their offer of employment in China.

He was to consider this concession as a recognition of the attachment between Magdalen and himself, on certain terms only.

If, during the year of probation, he failed to justify the confidence placed in him--a confidence which had led Mr.Vanstone to take unreservedly upon himself the whole responsibility of Frank's future prospects--the marriage scheme was to be considered, from that moment, as at an end.