“You get the estate too cheaply,” said Mr. MacFarlane, with warmth.  “Think that Mr. Hogarth might have kept it for ever if it had not been for this romantic crotchet; think that he might marry Miss Melville, and having possession might defy you to oust him, and drag you through court after court, and run you up 10,000 pounds of costs, and after all the Chancery Courts would decide that he should keep it.  Public feeling is against these restrictions, for they lead to people living par amours if they are forbidden to marry; and Mr. Hogarth’s position and character would be all in his favour.  You get property worth 50,000 pounds divided amongst you, and you offer my client a paltry 2,000 pounds out of consideration for his generosity and forbearance.”

“I am satisfied with it,” said Francis; “and I think Jane will be the same.”

“It is too little,” said the director of the Infirmary, who had never spoken before.  “We must make it 500 pounds each; and we are very much obliged to Mr. Hogarth; and we should not limit him so much with regard to the personal property.  Cross Hall library was valued at more than 1,000 pounds; and as they are all such reading folk, they might take 200 pounds of books alone.  Let us be liberal, and say 700 pounds for what he may like to take from Cross Hall.”

“If I have any voice in the administration of the property I make over to you, I should like to have it applied specially to paying your officers better—­particularly in those situations which are filled by women.  I know you think it right to economize your funds; and I believe that all Scotch charities are much better managed, and much more honestly administered than those on the other side of the Tweed.  But I think you pay your surgeons and your matrons very shabbily.  You say you get so many applications, that it shows you do not underpay them.  But it would be much better to demand better qualifications, and to pay them more highly.  Out of sixty applications for a matronship worth 30 pounds a year, there is perhaps one or two only fit for the work; and if they are fit for it, they are well worth 70 pounds,” said Francis.

“We have raised that salary,” said the director of the ----- Institution.

“I am glad to hear it—­very glad to hear it,” said Francis.

“We will take what you say into consideration,” said the director of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, who was speculating on all that could be done with a sum amounting to more than 9,000 pounds.

“I object to specify sums in making the deed of gift, or I should make some special provision on that score; but the value of money changes so much that what is a fair salary in one generation is not a fair one the next, and if salaries are fixed too high they are apt to lead to favoritism and jobbing.  I dare say it would be better to trust to your own sense of honour on the matter.”

“I think you may safely do so, Mr. Hogarth.  With regard to the property, I suppose we should advertise it for sale and then divide the proceeds.  The payments to Mr. Hogarth must be made at once, however, as I suppose he is bound for Australia,” said the director of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum.