The Dugdale Millions — page 103: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. 93 luxury in life than I am accustomed to observing at home. I suppose it comes from the fact that every one is engaged in producing. We will come to it at home. We will have to, to save ourselves. People of our class are now doing things that would not have been dreamed of five-and-twenty years ago. For instance, I am seeking to go into trade, as you prob- ably know, for that is what my proposition to Mr. Hetlow really involves.”’ “Well, I'll be hanged,’’ thought Dick, ‘‘he pro- poses to become the largest wool merchant in England by marrying Bessie. Itis an ingenious way of getting into business. I suppose Bessie is a mere incident to this going into trade.’’ ‘‘Mr. Hetlow has doubtless told you of this?’’ con- tinued Merrimount. ‘‘No,’’ replied Dick, ‘‘he has given me no confi- dence on the matter.’”’ *‘Oh, well then, I ought to say nothing more, but what I have said will suffice to show what a change is taking place at home. The caste wall is breaking down rapidly—so rapidly indeed that the Radicals are predicting that the Queen will be the last ruler under the theory of divine right. Of course the traditions of our house are against any such theory, for we are loyal supporters of the crown; but the leveling tenden- cies of the age have entered our circle, and the family indorsed my mission to this country, and is willing that I should devote myself to trade. Indeed many of the old families are making alliances, by marriage with tradespeople, which would even twenty years ago have been called a mésalliance.’’ The manner in which Merrimount talked, the utter absence of any regret over the state of things he was describing, or affectation of superiority, but as if there was in this progress to an advanced condition to be commended rather than condemned, contrasted with what Dick thought was an arrogant assumption Comicloo S C@ 3}