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92 'He certainly is not very handsome,' the judge said, when Lady Staveley insisted somewhat strongly on that special feature of the case.

'I think he is the ugliest young man I know,' said her ladyship.

'He looks very well in his wig,' said the judge.

'Wig! Madeline would not see him in his wig; nor anybody else very often, seeing the way he is going on about his profession. What are we to do about it?'

'Well. I should say, do nothing.'

'And let him propose to the dear girl if he chooses to take the fancy into his head?'

'I don't see how we are to hinder him. But I have that impression of Mr. Graham that I do not think he will do anything unhandsome by us. He has some singular ideas of his own about law, and I grant you that he is plain'

'The plainest young man I ever saw,' said Lady Staveley.

'But, if I know him, he is a man of high character and much more than ordinary acquirement.'

'I cannot understand Madeline,' Lady Staveley went on, not caring overmuch about Felix Graham's acquirements.

'Well, my dear, I think the key to her choice is this, that she has judged not with her eyes, but with her ears, or rather with her understanding. Had she accepted Mr. Orme, I as a father should of course have been well satisfied. He is, I have no doubt, a fine young fellow, and will make a good husband some day.'

'Oh, excellent!' said her ladyship; 'and The Cleeve is only seven miles.'

'But I must acknowledge that I cannot feel angry with Madeline.'

'Angry! no, not angry. Who would be angry with the poor child?'

'Indeed, I am somewhat proud of her. It seems to me that she prefers mind to matter, which is a great deal to say for a young lady.'

'Matter!' exclaimed Lady Staveley, who could not but feel that the term, as applied to such a young man as Peregrine Orme, was very opprobrious.

'Wit and intellect and power of expression have gone further with her than good looks and rank and worldly prosperity. If that be so, and I believe it is, I cannot but love her the better for it.'

'So do I love her, as much as any mother can love her daughter.'

'Of course you do.' And the judge kissed his wife.

'And I like wit and genius and all that sort of thing.'

'Otherwise you would have not taken me, my dear.'

'You were the handsomest man of your day. That's why I fell in love with you.'