Rosalie too wants to exercise her energy and skill—but given the limited roles available to Victorian women, Rosalie channels all this energy, skill, and ambition into flirtation. A marriage to Sir Thomas Ashby, though a “victory” according to Rosalie’s mother, would also constitute the end of Rosalie’s “career” and ability to exercise her skills. Meanwhile, Mrs. Murray’s desire that Rosalie marry Sir Ashby despite having heard terrible rumors about him shows how status-consciousness has warped her value system: she would rather her daughter have a rich husband (even if he’s a “rake,” or a wealthy but immoral man) than a good one.