Palliser novels. The Duke’s Children I

“Whether you be entitled to me or not I cannot yet say. Now I will tell you something of myself. My father’s father came to New York as a labourer from Holland, and worked upon the quays in that city. Then he built houses, and became rich, and was almost a miser; — with the good sense, howev­er, to educate his only son. What my father is you see. To me he is sterling gold, but he is not like your people. My dear mother is not at all like your ladies. She is not a lady in your sense, — though with her unselfish devotion to others she is something infinitely better. For myself I am, — well, meaning to speak honestly, I will call myself pretty and smart. I think I know how to be true.”