"
"My lord, I am much indebted for the interest you have taken in my
affairs," said Ravenswood. "I did not intend to have troubled you in any
matter concerning Miss Ashton. As my engagement with that young lady has
reached your lordship, I can only say, that you must necessarily suppose
that I was aware of the objections to my marrying into her father's
family, and of course must have been completely satisfied with the
reasons by which these objections are overbalanced, since I have
proceeded so far in the matter."
"Nay, Master, if you had heard me out," said his noble relation, "you
might have spared that observation; for, withotu questioning that you
had reasons which seemed to you to counterbalance every other obstacle,
I set myself, by every means that it became me to use towards the
Ashtons, to persuade them to meet your views."
"I am obliged to your lordship for your unsolicited intercession," said
Ravenswood; "especially as I am sure your lordship would never carry it
beyond the bounds which it became me to use."
"Of that," said the Marquis, "you may be confident; I myself felt the
delicacy of the matter too much to place a gentleman nearly connected
with my house in a degrading or dubious situation with these Ashtons.
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