Could it be possible that there was anything in it?
Mr.Kennedy was an unmarried man, with an immense fortune, a magnificent place, a seat in Parliament, and was not perhaps above forty years of age.

There could be no reason why he should not ask Lady Laura to be his wife,--except, indeed, that he did not seem to have sufficient words at command to ask anybody for anything.

But could it be that such a woman as Lady Laura could accept such a man as Mr.Kennedy because of his wealth, and because of his fine place,--a man who had not a word to throw to a dog, who did not seem to be possessed of an idea, who hardly looked like a gentleman;--so Phineas told himself.

But in truth Mr.Kennedy, though he was a plain, unattractive man, with nothing in his personal appearance to call for remark, was not unlike a gentleman in his usual demeanour.

Phineas himself, it may be here said, was six feet high, and very handsome, with bright blue eyes, and brown wavy hair, and light silken beard.