“Alone?”

“Yes, alone.  Tell him about the girl’s marriage, and let him judge what he ought to do.”

“Could not you come with me?”

“No.  You don’t understand.  I have to think of his money.  He can say what he will do with his own.”

“He will never give it without coming to you.”

“He never will if he does come to me.  You may prevail with him.  A man may throw away his own money as he pleases.  I cannot tell him that he ought to do it.  You may say that you have told me, and that I have sent you to him.  And tell him, let him do what he will, that I shall find no fault with him.  If you can understand me and him you will know that I can do nothing for you beyond that.”  Then Dolly took her leave and went home.

The mother, turning it all over in her mind, did understand something of her niece, and went off to London as quick as the omnibus could take her.  There she did see her brother, and he came back, in consequence, to dinner a little earlier than usual.

“Why did you send my sister to me?” were the first words which he said to Dolly.

“Because it was your business, and not mine.”

“How dare you separate my business and yours?  What do you think I have done?”

“Given the young lady five hundred pounds down on the nail.”

“Worse than that.”

“Worse?”

“Much worse.  But why did you send my sister to my chambers?”

“But what have you done, papa?  You don’t mean that you have given the shark more than he demands?”

“I don’t know that he’s a shark.  Why shouldn’t the man want five hundred pounds with his wife?  Mr. Barry would want much more with you, and would be entitled to ask for much more.”

“You are my father.”

“Yes; but those poor girls have been taught to look upon me almost as their father.”

“But what have you done?”

“I have promised them each three hundred and fifty pounds on their wedding day,—­three hundred pounds to go to their husbands, and fifty pounds for wedding expenses,—­on condition that they marry with my approval.  I shall not be so hard to please for them as for you.”

“And you have approved of Mr. Juniper?”

“I have already set on foot inquiries down at Newmarket; and I have made an exception in favor of Mr. Juniper.  He is to have four hundred and fifty pounds.  Jane only asked four hundred pounds to begin with.  You are not to find fault with me.”

“No; that is part of the bargain.  I wonder whether my aunt knew what a thoroughly good-natured thing I did.  We must have no more puddings now, and you must come down by the omnibus.”

“It is not quite so bad as that, Dolly.”

“When one has given away one’s money extravagantly one ought to be made to feel the pinch one’s self.  But dear, dear, darling old man! why shouldn’t you give away your money as you please?  I don’t want it.  I am not in the least afraid but what there will be plenty for me.  But when the girl talks about her five hundred pounds so glibly, as though she had a right to expect it, and spoke of this jockey with such inward pride of heart—­”