How we cite our quotes: (Volume.Book.Chapter.Line)
Quote #1
The hitch here, of course, was that, with whatever beauty, her sister, widowed and almost in want, with four bouncing children, was not a sensible value. (1.1.1.6)
Kate's poor sister Marian is basically toast as far as social mobility. For starters, she made a bad marriage to a guy who sounds like he was worthless—a surefire way to lower yourself on England's social ladder. But worse still, the dude up and died, taking away Marian's only source of income. Within the British class system, Marian basically has no value as a person. And if that sounds harsh, that's because it is.
Quote #2
"Ah, you naturally want to marry her to a duke, and are eager to smooth away any hitch." (1.2.2.10)
Merton might not always pick up on social cues, but he's no fool. He understands that Maud Lowder wants to marry her niece Kate to someone important or rich, and that she therefore wants him to stop courting her. But good ol' Mert has other ideas.
Quote #3
A less vulgarly, a less obviously purchasing or parading person she couldn't have imagined; but it was, all the same, the truth of truths that the girl couldn't get away from her wealth. (1.3.1.12)
Milly is very modest about her wealth—she's not doing the turn of the century equivalent of bathing in champagne or sticking her head out the sunroof of a limousine. But try as she might, Milly can never disguise the fact that she's filthy rich. It's just a part of who she is.