Sink or Swim? , Volume III by Matilda Charlotte Houstoun

"Contentment," to quote the words of the wisest of mankind, "is great / gain; " and true enough also is often the converse of the / assertion -- namely, that in "discontent there is exceeding loss. " In Lady / Millicent Vavasour's case, however, there seemed every chance that an / exception to both rules would be found; for the desire and determination / to reverse a decree which angered her, and which had for years been the / mainspring and motive of one of the most unwomanly of actions, seemed / likely to be crowned with success. Very wonderful, as well as / praiseworthy (had her motive been a nobler one), were the exertions / which, quite _sub rosa_, and working like a mole beneath the soil, she / had made to effect that always extremely difficult result -- namely, the / setting aside of an obnoxious will. The money she had spent -- the fees / she had paid -- the consultations with eminent lawyers that she had / undergone -- the perseverance and clear-sightedness of which she had / given proofs, were worthy, one and all, of a better cause. At / last -- whether it was that by her continual coming she wearied them -- or / whether the great law lords did really -- partly incited thereto, perhaps, / by the prestige enjoyed by the wealth and "standing" of the grandiose / Lady Millicent -- consider that she had right and justice on her side, / certain it is that opinions favourable to her cause were placing Arthur / Vavasour's position as heir-apparent of Gillingham in rather a / precarious and unsatisfactory point of view. Between himself and his / mother there had never, as we well know, existed, either on this or any / other subject, any great amount either of confidence or affection; nor / was it probable that the small degree of both, that it was only fair to / suppose might be lying latent in those two antagonistic breasts, would / be much increased and strengthened by the approaching triumph (for such / all visible tokens announced it to be) of the already vain-glorious Lady / Millicent.

That triumph -- for such news ever travels quickly -- began speedily to be / noised abroad, to the annoyance of Arthur, whose creditors grew once / more on the alert, and to the extreme displeasure of Mr. Duberly, whose / usually placid temper would, but for his ever-increasing delight in his / new toy, _i.e._ his grandson, have betrayed outward signs of / discomposure and annoyance.