. He may not have money, but he always has what is much
better - family, my dear.«
    I had my doubts of their caring so very much for Morgan ap Kerrig, in India
and China; but of course I never expressed them. I used to say it was a great
thing to be so highly connected.
    »It is, my dear, a great thing,« Mrs. Woodcourt would reply. »It has its
disadvantages; my son's choice of a wife, for instance, is limited by it; but
the matrimonial choice of the Royal family is limited, in much the same manner.«
    Then she would pat me on the arm and smooth my dress, as much as to assure
me that she had a good opinion of me, the distance between us notwithstanding.
    »Poor Mr. Woodcourt, my dear,« she would say, and always with some emotion,
for with her lofty pedigree she had a very affectionate heart, »was descended
from a great Highland family, the Mac Coorts of Mac Coort. He served his king
and country as an officer in the Royal Highlanders, and he died on the field. My
son is one of the last representatives of two old families. With the blessing of
Heaven he will set them up again, and unite them with another old family.«
    It was in vain for me to try to change the subject, as I used to try - only
for the sake of novelty - or perhaps because - but I need not be so particular.
Mrs. Woodcourt never would let me change it.
    »My dear,« she said one night, »you have so much sense, and you look at the
world in a quiet manner so superior to your time of life, that it is a comfort
to me to talk to you about these family matters of mine. You don't know much of
my son, my dear; but you know enough of him, I dare say, to recollect him?«
    »Yes, ma'am. I recollect, him.«
    »Yes, my dear. Now, my dear, I think you are a judge of character, and I
should like to have your opinion of him?«
    »O, Mrs. Woodcourt!« said I, »that is so difficult.«
    »Why is it so difficult, my dear,« she returned. »I don't see it myself.«
    »To give an opinion -«
    »On so slight an acquaintance, my dear. That's true.
