ShmoopTube

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You can't handle the Shmoop!

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Pause and review, you know the drill.

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What is the meaning of the phrase "lady of fortune" as it is used in line 5?

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And here are the potential answers:

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Ah, "lady of fortune" that's the game show where you spin the lady for the chance to

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win cash and fabulous prizes...

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Correction: that one was canceled. Too many complaints.

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Mainly from the lady that people were spinning. What does "lady of fortune" mean here? Let's

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examine line 5 to find out, but just so we have some context, let's actually re-read

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the entire first paragraph as well:

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There once lived, in a sequestered part of the county of Devonshire, one Mr. Godfrey

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Nickleby: a worthy gentleman, who, taking it into his head rather late in life that

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he must get married, and not being young enough or rich enough to aspire to the hand of a

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lady of fortune, had wedded an old flame out of mere attachment, who in her turn had taken

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him for the same reason. Thus two people who cannot afford to play cards for money, sometimes

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sit down to a quiet game for love.

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The part that refers to a "lady of fortune" is implying that Nickleby would have loved

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to marry a lady of fortune...

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...but he started a little late in the game, and didn't have much moolah. So, he was old

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and broke. Not really how you want to start your Match.com profile.

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So, which of our answer choices sounds like the type of person who wouldn't be interested

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in an old, broke guy?

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A is out because Lady Luck isn't even a real lady...

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C, D and E are out, because as much as prostitutes, pirates and gamblers all like money...

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...they're not necessarily looking to marry someone with a lot of booty.

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A wealthy lady, on the other hand, is probably accustomed to a certain lifestyle she wouldn't

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want to relinquish...

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...so she's probably on the lookout for an equally wealthy gentleman.

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The correct answer is B.

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Sorry, Nickleby. No champagne wishes or caviar dreams for you, sir.

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for you, sir.

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