choose," said the count, "I would rather that a woman I loved were of
such a family than that she had for her dower the mines of Peru."

"So would I," cried Lord Colambre.

"I am glad to hear you say so, my lord, and with such energy; so few
young men of the present day look to what I call good connexion. In
marrying, a man does not, to be sure, marry his wife's mother; and yet
a prudent man, when he begins to think of the daughter, would look
sharp at the mother; ay, and back to the grandmother too, and along
the whole female line of ancestry."

"True--most true--he ought--he must."

"And I have a notion," said the count, smiling, "your lordship's
practice has been conformable to your theory."

"I!--mine!" said Lord Colambre, starting, and looking at the count
with surprise.

"I beg your pardon," said the count; "I did not intend to surprise
your confidence. But you forget that I was present, and saw the
impression which was made on your mind by a mother's want of a proper
sense of delicacy and propriety--Lady Dashfort."

"Oh, Lady Dashfort! she was quite out of my head."

"And Lady Isabel?--I hope she is quite out of your heart."

"She never was in it," said Lord Colambre. "Only laid siege to it,"