Benjamin Disraeli

“ Good sport had not awaited Egremont. Truth to say, his rod had played in a very careless hand. He had taken it, though an adept in the craft when in the mood, rather as an excuse to be alone, than a means to be amused. There are seasons in life when solitude is a necessity; and such a one had now descended on the spirit of the brother of Lord Marney.
The form of Sybil Gerard was stamped upon his brain. It blended with all thoughts; it haunted every object. ”

“ For the married life of a woman of our class in the present condition of our country is a lease of woe," he added shaking his head, "slaves, and the slaves of slaves? Even woman's spirit cannot stand against it; and it can bear against more than we can, master."
"Your daughter is not made for the common cares of life," said Egremont.
"We'll not talk of them," said Gerard. "Sybil has an English heart, and that's not easily broken. ”

“ The more fools they; to devote their energies to the maintenance of a system which is founded on selfishness and which leads to fraud; and of which they are the first victims. But every man thinks he will be an exception."
"And yet," said Egremont, "a great family rooted in the land, has been deemed to be an element of political strength."
"I'll tell you what," said Gerard, there is a great family in this country and rooted in it, of which we have heard much less than they deserved, but of which I suspect we shall hear very soon enough to make us all think a bit." ”