Another was that, because her son had set his whole affection upon learning, it appeared he had no immediate intention of fixing his love upon any more material maid.

In her timid jealousy she loved to come across this topic with him, not worldly-wise enough to know that the answers which reassured her did not display the noblest side of his heart.
"And there wasn't a girl among them all that you fancied, my lad ?" With spotless apron round her portly form she was serving the morning rasher while Caius and his father sat at meat.
"I wouldn't say that, mother: I fancied them all." Caius spoke with generous condescension towards the fair.
"Ay," said the father shrewdly, "there's safety in numbers." "But there wasn't one was particular, Caius ?" continued the dame with gleeful insinuation, because she was assured that the answer was to be negative.

"A likely lad like you should marry; it's part of his duty." Caius was dense enough not to see her true sentiment.

The particular smile that, in the classification of his facial expressions, belonged to the subject of love and marriage, played upon his lips while he explained that when a man got up in the world he could make a better marriage than he could when comparatively poor and unknown.
Her woman's instinct assured her that the expression and the words arose from a heart ignorant of the quality of love, and she regarded nothing else.
The breakfast-room in which they sat had no feature that could render it attractive to Caius.

Although it was warm weather, the windows were closely shut and never opened; such was the habit of the family, and even his influence had not strength to break through a regulation which to his parents appeared so wise and safe.