My father was certainly disposed to take very kind and proper notice of him.

Why did Mr Elliot draw back ?" "Mr Elliot," replied Mrs Smith, "at that period of his life, had one object in view: to make his fortune, and by a rather quicker process than the law.

He was determined to make it by marriage.

He was determined, at least, not to mar it by an imprudent marriage; and I know it was his belief (whether justly or not, of course I cannot decide), that your father and sister, in their civilities and invitations, were designing a match between the heir and the young lady, and it was impossible that such a match should have answered his ideas of wealth and independence.

That was his motive for drawing back, I can assure you.