She was exceedingly plain, and gave promise of always so remaining.

Sir George, who had no son, was anxious that his vast estates should remain in the Vernon name.

He had upon the occasion of my last visit intimated to me that when Doll should become old enough to marry, and I, perchance, had had my fill of knocking about the world, a marriage might be brought about between us which would enable him to leave his estates to his daughter and still to retain the much-loved Vernon name for his descendants.
Owing to Doll's rusty red hair, slim shanks, and freckled face, the proposition had not struck me with favor, yet to please Sir George I had feigned acquiescence, and had said that when the time should come, we would talk it over.

Before my flight from Scotland I had often thought of Sir George's proposition made six or seven years before.

My love for Mary Stuart had dimmed the light of other beauties in my eyes, and I had never married.