"Oh, dear!"
"It's done, my love; and I believe we shall find it all for the best. The bishops' daughters always marry clergymen, and the judges' daughters ought to marry lawyers."
"But you can't give him a practice. The bishops have livings to give away."
"Perhaps I may show him how to make a practice for himself, which would be better. Take my word for it that it will be best for her happiness. You would not have liked to be disappointed yourself, when you made up your mind to be married."
"No, I should not," said Lady Staveley.
"And she will have a will of her own quite as strong as you had." And then there was silence in the room for some time.
"You'll be kind to him when he comes?" said the judge.
"Oh, yes," said Lady Staveley, in a voice that was by no means devoid of melancholy.
"Nobody can be so kind as you when you please. And as it is to be—"
"I always did like him," said Lady Staveley, "although he is so very plain."