For Lady Milborough was like an old hen, in her capacity for taking many under her wings.

The two sisters had hardly done more than bear with her,--Nora, indeed, bearing with her more graciously than Mrs.
Trevelyan; and in return, even for this, the old dowager was full of motherly regard.

Now she knew well that Mr.Glascock was over head and ears in love with Nora Rowley.

It only wanted the slightest management and the easiest discretion to bring him on his knees, with an offer of his hand.

And, then, how much that hand contained!--how much, indeed, as compared with that other hand, which was to be given in return, and which was,--to speak the truth,--completely empty! Mr.
Glascock was the heir to a peer, was the heir to a rich peer, was the heir to a very, very old peer.