But the gods--and George--saw otherwise.

George was a handsome, weak boy, who objected equally to work and to Methodism; and as his father cared for nothing beyond those sources of interest, and had no patience for any one who did, the two did not always see eye to eye.

Perhaps if Maria had been more unbending, things might have turned out differently; but Methodism in its severest aspects was not more severe than Maria Farringdon.

She was a thorough gentlewoman, and extremely clever; but tenderness was not counted among her excellencies.
George would have been fond of almost any woman who was pretty enough to be loved and not clever enough to be feared; but his cousin Maria was beyond even his powers of falling in love, although, to do him justice, these powers were by no means limited.

The end of it was that George offended his father past forgiveness by running away to Australia rather than marry Maria, and there disappeared.