Of course, if she had been lowly-born--descended from the dregs of the people, or the daughter of a criminal--he would have trampled his love under foot.

He would have said to himself "_Noblesse oblige_," and rather than tarnish the honor of his family, he would have given her up.
This was not needed.

Related to the Duke of Hazlewood, there could not be anything wrong.

The duchess had told him distinctly that Madaline's mother had married beneath her, and that the whole family on that account had completely ignored her.

He did not remember that the duchess had told him so in as many words, but he was decidedly of the opinion that Madaline's mother was a cousin of the duke's, and that she had married a drawing-master, who had afterward turned out wild and profligate.