The idea, hardly ever in truth entertained but which had been barely suggested from one to another among the ladies of the family, that Dolly should marry Marie Melmotte, had been abandoned.  Dolly, with all his vapid folly, had a will of his own, which, among his own family, was invincible.  He was never persuaded to any course either by his father or mother.  Dolly certainly would not marry Marie Melmotte.  Therefore when the Longestaffes heard that Sir Felix was coming to the country, they had no special objection to entertaining him at Caversham.  He had been lately talked of in London as the favourite in regard to Marie Melmotte.  Georgiana Longestaffe had a grudge of her own against Lord Nidderdale, and was on that account somewhat well inclined towards Sir Felix’s prospects.  Soon after the Melmottes’ arrival...