Jacob Ogden, senior, was very accurately acquainted with
Miss Smethurst's property, and could calculate its future value
to a nicety. He had the best opportunities for knowing these
matters, being one of Jerry Smethurst's trustees. When
Colonel Stanburne was a rich man, Jacob Ogden would have
preferred Miss Stanburne for his nephew to any girl in Sally
Smethurst's position ; for though nobody could love and ap-
preciate money more than Jacob did, he wished to see his
nephew take a higher place in society than money of itself
would be able to procure for him. As in mixing a glass of
grog the time comes when we want no more spirit, but turn

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Chap. X. Young Jocob and Edith. 361

our attention to the sugar-basin, although there can be no
doubt that the spirit is the main thing (since without it the
glass would be nothing but eau sucrie)^ so, when we want to
make that composite of perfections, a gentleman, there is a
time when money is no longer needed, though that is the main
element of his strength, and we turn our attention to the
sugar-basin of the comme il faut. When Jacob Ogden, se-
nior, was favorable to the Wenderholme match, it was not so
much on account of Miss Stanburne's money as on account
of her decided position as a young lady of the aristocracy ;
and when the Colonel was ruined, he did not disapprove of
the match because Miss Stanburne would have no fortune, but
because her position as member of a county family had been
upset by her father's bankruptcy.
