’Fifteen hundred pounds!  And that is all she will have when her father dies 7’

‘Every farthing, Will.  You’ll take all the rest.’

‘I wish she wasn’t going to have that.’

’Why?  Why on earth should you of all men grudge her such a moderate maintenance, seeing that you have not got to pay it?’

’It isn’t a maintenance.  How could it be a maintenance for such as her?  What sort of maintenance would it be?’

’Much better than nothing.  And so you would feel if she were your daughter.’

’She shall be my daughter, or my sister, or whatever you like to call her.  You don’t think that I’ll take the whole estate and leave her to starve on the interest of fifteen hundred pounds a year!’

‘You’d better make her your wife at once, Will.’

Will Belton blushed as he answered, ’That, perhaps, would be easier said than done.  That is not in my power even if I should wish it.  But the other is in my power.’

’Will, take my advice, and don’t make any romantic promises when you are down at Belton.  You’ll be sure to regret them if you do.  And you should remember that in truth Miss Amedroz has no greater claim on you than any other lady in the land.’

‘Isn’t she my cousin?’

’Well yes.  She is your cousin, but a distant one only; and I’m not aware that cousinship gives any claim.’

’Who is she to have a claim on?  I’m the nearest she has got.  Besides, am not I going to take all the property which ought to be hers?’

’That’s just it.  There’s no such ought in the case.  The property is as much your own as this poker is mine.  That’s exactly the mistake I want you to guard against.  If you liked her, and chose to marry her, that would be all very well; presuming that you don’t want to get money in marriage.’

‘I hate the idea of marrying for money.’

’All right.  Then marry Miss Amedroz if you please.  But don’t make any rash undertakings to be her father, or her brother, or her uncle, or her aunt.  Such romance always leads a man into trouble.’

‘But I’ve done it already.’

‘What do you mean?’

’I’ve told her that I would be her brother, and that as long as I had a shilling she should never want sixpence.  And I mean it.  And as for what you say about romance and repenting it, that simply comes from your being a lawyer.’

‘Thank ye, Will.’

’If one goes to a chemist, of course one gets physic, and has to put up with the bad smells.’

‘Thank you again.’

’But the chemist may be a very good sort of fellow at home all the same, and have a cupboard full of sweetmeats and a garden full of flowers.  However, the thing is done as far as I am concerned, and I can almost find it in my heart to be sorry that Clara has got this driblet of money.  Fifteen hundred pounds I It would keep her out of the workhouse, and that is about all.’