He
might marry her, and insist on giving it up afterwards; but he foresaw
terrible difficulties in the way of such an arrangement. Lady Eustace was
self-willed, and had already told him that she did not intend to keep the
jewels in his house--but in her own! What should he do, so that no human
being--not the most bigoted Tory that ever expressed scorn for a Whig
lord--should be able to say that he had done wrong? He was engaged to the
lady, and could not simply change his mind and give no reason. He believed
in Mr. Camperdown; but he could hardly plead that belief, should he
hereafter be accused of heartless misconduct. For aught he knew Lady
Eustace might bring an action against him for breach of promise, and
obtain a verdict and damages, and annihilate him as an Under-Secretary.
How should he keep his hands quite clean?
Frank Greystock was, as far as he knew, Lizzie's nearest relative in
London. The dean was her uncle, but then the dean was down at Bobsborough.
It might be necessary for him to go down to Bobsborough; but in the mean
time he would see Frank Greystock. Greystock was as bitter a Tory as any
in England.
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