But now Mr.Maule began to think whether he might not possibly give the lie to these people who were compassing his death, by returning to the halls of his ancestors, if not in the bloom of youth, still in the pride of age.

Why should he not live at Maule Abbey if this successful marriage could be effected?
He almost knew himself well enough to be aware that a month at Maule Abbey would destroy him; but it is the proper thing for a man of fashion to have a place of his own, and he had always been alive to the glory of being Mr.Maule of Maule Abbey.

In preparing the way for the marriage that was to come he must be so known.

To be spoken of as the father of Maule of Maule Abbey would have been fatal to him.

To be the father of a married son at all was disagreeable, and therefore when the communication was made to him he had managed to be very unpleasant.