Winton dropped upon his chair again and stared at her with an anxious countenance. “I knew--I was told--that the Duke would not be easy to please. And quite right! I agree with his Grace. I am not half good enough for her; but then,” he added after a pause, “nobody is. If there is one man in the world as worthy as she is, neither the Duke nor any one knows where to find him; and then,” he continued, in tones more insinuating still, “it would not matter now. If that hero were found to-morrow, she would not have him, for--she has chosen me! I allow that it is the most wonderful thing in the world!” said the lover, in a rapture which became him; “but you will find it is true. She has chosen me!” “It may be very true,” said the Duchess, shaking her head more and more, “but the Duke will not pay much attention to that. I am afraid it is not moral excellence he is thinking of. It would be hard, I allow, to find anybody as good as Jane. Probably if we did, he would turn out to be some poor old missionary or quite impossible person. I am afraid that is not at all what her father is thinking of.” “Then tell me what it is. I am not Prince Charming--but the Wintons have been settled at Winton since the Conquest, and I am very well off. The settlements should be--whatever you wish.” “Don’t promise too much,” said the Duchess, with a smile, “for no doubt you have got a family lawyer who will be of a very different opinion; indeed I hope you have, if that is your way of doing business. But, alas! the Duke will not be satisfied, I fear, even with that.” “Then what, in the name of heaven!--I beg you a thousand pardons, Duchess. I don’t know what I am saying. I have no title, to be sure. Is it a title that is necessary?” “I can’t tell you what is necessary,” said the Duchess, with a tone of impatience. “The Duke is--well, the Duke is her father; that is all that is to be said. He will never listen to your proposal--never! That is why I should have said to you, Don’t make it. Leave her in her tranquillity, poor girl.” “But----” Winton cried. He did not know what more to say--a protest of all his being, that was the only thing of which he was capable. “But----” the Duchess repeated. “Yes, Mr Winton, there is always a but. To tell the truth, I am not so very sorry that you did not ask me after all. I should have been obliged to tell you what I have now told you. But since you have taken it into your own hands, I am rather glad. If her father had his way, Jane would never be married at all. Oh, don’t be so enthusiastic; don’t thank me so warmly! I have done nothing for you, and I don’t know what I can do for you.” “Everything!” said Winton. “With you to back us, it is impossible that anything can prevail against us. The Duke’s heart will melt; he will hear reason.”