And, indeed, when I understood, upon coming to England, that he was gone down here, and, as I conjectured, to pay his addresses to your sister, to say truth, I did not see he could do better.

Here was a poor fellow that was about to cease to be a lord and a wealthy man; was it not very reasonable that he should make the most of his dignity while he had it?
and if, by marrying a pretty girl while in possession of his title, he could get possession of the good estate of Nettlewood, why, I could see nothing in it but a very pretty way of breaking his fall." "Very pretty for him, indeed, and very convenient too," said Mowbray; "but pray, sir, what was to become of the honour of my family ?" "Why, what was the honour of your family to me ?" said Touchwood; "unless it was to recommend your family to my care, that I was disinherited on account of it.

And if this Etherington, or Bulmer, had been a good fellow, I would have seen all the Mowbrays that ever wore broad cloth at Jericho, before I had interfered." "I am really much indebted to your kindness," said Mowbray angrily.
"More than you are aware of," answered Touchwood; "for, though I thought this Bulmer, even when declared illegitimate, might be a reasonable good match for your sister, considering the estate which was to accompany the union of their hands; yet, now I have discovered him to be a scoundrel--every way a scoundrel--I would not wish any decent girl to marry him, were they to get all Yorkshire, instead of Nettlewood.

So I have come to put you right." The strangeness of the news which Touchwood so bluntly communicated, made Mowbray's head turn round like that of a man who grows dizzy at finding himself on the verge of a precipice.

Touchwood observed his consternation, which he willingly construed into an acknowledgment of his own brilliant genius.
"Take a glass of wine, Mr.Mowbray," he said, complacently; "take a glass of old sherry--nothing like it for clearing the ideas--and do not be afraid of me, though I come thus suddenly upon you with such surprising tidings--you will find me a plain, simple, ordinary man, that have my faults and my blunders like other people.