Comfortably established on a capitalist basis, his future assured
because it depended upon the signal vice of his class, it one day
occurred to Daniel that he ought to take to himself a helpmeet, a
partner of his joys and sorrows. He had thought of it from time to
time during the past year, but only in a vague way; he had even
directed his eyes to the woman who might perchance be the one most
suitable, though with anything but assurance of his success if he
seriously endeavoured to obtain her. Long ago he had ceased to
trouble himself about his first love; with characteristic acceptance
of the accomplished fact, he never really imagined that Alice
Mutimer, after she became an heiress, could listen to his wooing,
and, to do him justice, he appreciated the delicacy of his position,
if he should continue to press his suit. It cost him not a little
suffering altogether to abandon his hopes, for the Princess had
captivated him, and if he could have made her his wife he would--for
at least twelve months--have been a proud and exultant man. But all
that was over; Daniel was heart-free, when he again began to occupy
himself with womankind; it was a very different person towards whom
he found himself attracted. This was Emma Vine.
After that chance meeting with Mrs. Clay in the omnibus he lost
sight of the sisters for a while, but one day Kate came to the
public-house and desired to see him.
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