Then the attentions of Larry Twentyman
began to make themselves visible, infinitely to Reginald Morton's
disgust. Up to that time he had no idea of falling in love with the
girl himself. Since he had begun to think on such subjects at all
he had made up his mind that he would not marry. He was almost the
more proud of his birth by his father's side, because he had been
made to hear so much of his mother's low position. He had told
himself a hundred times that under no circumstances could he marry
any other than a lady of good birth. But his own fortune was small,
and he knew himself well enough to be sure that he would not marry
for money. He was now nearly forty years of age and had never yet
been thrown into the society of any one that had attracted him. He
was sure that he would not marry. And yet when he saw that Mr.
Twentyman was made much of and flattered by the whole Masters
family, apparently because he was regarded as an eligible husband
for Mary, Reginald Morton was not only disgusted, but personally
offended. Being a most unreasonable man he conceived a bitter
dislike to poor Larry, who, at any rate, was truly in love, and was
not looking too high in desiring to marry the portionless daughter
of the attorney. But Morton thought that the man ought to be kicked
and horsewhipped, or, at any rate, banished into some speechless
exile for his presumption.
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