Nevertheless she was not prepared to shove away the plank from below her feet, till she was sure that she had a more substantial board on which to step.

Her mother, who perhaps did not see in the character of Morton all the charms which she would wish to find in a son-in-law, was anxious to shake off the Bragton alliance; but Arabella, as she said so often both to herself and to her mother, was sick of the dust of the battle and conscious of fading strength.
She would make this one more attempt, but must make it with great care.

When last in town this young lord had whispered a word or two to her, which then had set her hoping for a couple of days; and now, when chance had brought her into his neighbourhood, he had gone out of his way,--very much out of his way,--to renew his acquaintance with her.

She would be mad not to give herself the chance;--but yet she could not afford to let the plank go from under her feet.
But the part she had to play was one which even she felt to be almost beyond her powers.

She could perceive that Morton was beginning to be jealous,--and that his jealousy was not of that nature which strengthens a tie but which is apt to break it altogether.