It was her nature to be soft, and kind, and beneficent.
But she knew very well that if she had had a son, a second son, situated
as was Frank Greystock, she would not wish him to marry a girl without a
penny, who was forced to earn her bread by being a governess. The
sacrifice on Mr. Greystock's part would, in her estimation, be so great,
that she did not believe that it would be made. Womanlike, she regarded
the man as being so much more important than the woman that she could not
think that Frank Greystock would devote himself simply to such a one as
Lucy Morris. Had Lady Fawn been asked which was the better creature of the
two, her late governess or the rising barrister who had declared himself
to be that governess's lover, she would have said that no man could be
better than Lucy. She knew Lucy's worth and goodness so well that she was
ready herself to do any act of friendship on behalf of one so sweet and
excellent. For herself and her girls Lucy was a companion and friend in
every way satisfactory. But was it probable that a man of the world, such
as was Frank Greystock, a rising man, a member of Parliament, one who, as
everybody knew, was especially in want of money--was it probable that such
a man as this would make her his wife just because she was good, and
worthy, and sweet-natured? No doubt the man had said that he would do so,
and Lady Fawn's fears betrayed on her ladyship's part a very bad opinion
of men in general.
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