When the same friend hinted the same
thing to Lizzie herself, Lizzie resolved that she would have her revenge
upon that friend. At any rate the courtship went on.
We have said that Sir Florian was vicious; but he was not altogether a bad
man, nor was he vicious in the common sense of the word. He was one who
denied himself no pleasure let the cost be what it might in health,
pocket, or morals. Of sin or wickedness he had probably no distinct idea.
In virtue, as an attribute of the world around him, he had no belief. Of
honour he thought very much, and had conceived a somewhat noble idea that
because much had been given to him much was demanded of him. He was
haughty, polite, and very generous. There was almost a nobility even about
his vices. And he had a special gallantry of which it is hard to say
whether it is or is not to be admired. They told him that he was like to
die--very like to die, if he did not change his manner of living. Would he
go to Algiers for a period? Certainly not. He would do no such thing. If
he died, there was his brother John left to succeed him. And the fear of
death never cast a cloud over that grandly beautiful brow.
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