"This takes me unawares," said he, his voice wellnigh breaking down.

"I don't mean that there is anything unexpected in a gentleman being attracted by her; but it did not occur to me that it would be you.

I always said," continued he, with a lump in his throat, "that my Grace would make a mark at her own level some day.

That was why I educated her.

I said to myself, 'I'll do it, cost what it may;' though her mother-law was pretty frightened at my paying out so much money year after year.