There had been marriages between the two families certainly as far back as the time of Henry VII, and they were accustomed to speak, if not of alliances, at any rate of friendships, much anterior to that.

As regards family, therefore, the pretensions of a Fletcher would always be held to be good by a Wharton.

But this Fletcher was the very pearl of the Fletcher tribe.

Though a younger brother, he had a very pleasant little fortune of his own.

Though born to comfortable circumstances, he had worked so hard in his young days as to have already made for himself a name at the bar.