They still recognise the claims of the wealthiest or strongest, and their love of luxury and ease is so keen that if the nest they lie in is only soft enough, they will not grieve long over the fact that it was not of their own choosing.  Arguing from these untrustworthy premises, he came to the conclusion that Ida would soon get over her repugnance to marrying him, when she found how many comforts and good things marriage with so rich a man would place at her disposal, and would, if for no other reason, learn to look on him with affection and gratitude as the author of her gilded ease.  And so indeed she might have done had she been of another and more common stamp.  But, unfortunately for his reasoning, there exist members of her sex who are by nature of an order of mind superior to these considerations, and who realise that they have but one life to live, and that the highest form of happiness is not dependent upon money or money’s worth, but rather upon the indulgence of mental aspirations and those affections which, when genuine, draw nearer to holiness than anything else about us.  Such a woman, more especially if she is already possessed with an affection for another man, does not easily become reconciled to a distasteful lot, however quietly she may endure it, and such a woman was Ida de la Molle.

Edward Cossey, when he reached Boisingham on the evening of his engagement, at once wrote and posted a note to the Squire, saying that he would call on the following morning about a matter of business.  Accordingly, at half-past ten o’clock, he arrived and was shown into the vestibule, where he found the old gentleman standing with his back to the fire and plunged in reflection.

“Well, Mr. de la Molle,” said Edward, rather nervously, so soon as he had shaken hands, “I do not know if Ida has spoken to you about what took place between us yesterday.”

“Yes,” he said, “yes, she told me something to the effect that she had accepted a proposal of marriage from you, subject to my consent, of course; but really the whole thing is so sudden that I have hardly had time to consider it.”

“It is very simple,” said Edward; “I am deeply attached to your daughter, and I have been so fortunate as to be accepted by her.  Should you give your consent to the marriage, I may as well say at once that I wish to carry out the most liberal money arrangements in my power.  I will make Ida a present of the mortgage that I hold over this property, and she may put it in the fire.  Further, I will covenant on the death of my father, which cannot now be long delayed, to settle two hundred thousand pounds upon her absolutely.  Also, I am prepared to agree that if we have a son, and he should wish to do so, he shall take the name of de la Molle.”

“I am sure,” said the Squire, turning round to hide his natural gratification at these proposals, “your offers on the subject of settlements are of a most liberal order, and of course so far as I am concerned, Ida will have this place, which may one day be again more valuable than it is now.”