‘It is natural, I suppose,’ said Mr. Grewgious, ’that your young husband should be all in all.  Yes.  You observe that I say, I suppose.  The fact is, I am a particularly Unnatural man, and I don’t know from my own knowledge.’

Rosa looked at him with some wonder.

‘I mean,’ he explained, ’that young ways were never my ways.  I was the only offspring of parents far advanced in life, and I half believe I was born advanced in life myself.  No personality is intended towards the name you will so soon change, when I remark that while the general growth of people seem to have come into existence, buds, I seem to have come into existence a chip.  I was a chip—­and a very dry one—­when I first became aware of myself.  Respecting the other certified copy, your wish shall be complied with.  Respecting your inheritance, I think you know all.  It is an annuity of two hundred and fifty pounds.  The savings upon that annuity, and some other items to your credit, all duly carried to account, with vouchers, will place you in possession of a lump-sum of money, rather exceeding Seventeen Hundred Pounds.  I am empowered to advance the cost of your preparations for your marriage out of that fund.  All is told.’

‘Will you please tell me,’ said Rosa, taking the paper with a prettily knitted brow, but not opening it:  ’whether I am right in what I am going to say?  I can understand what you tell me, so very much better than what I read in law-writings.  My poor papa and Eddy’s father made their agreement together, as very dear and firm and fast friends, in order that we, too, might be very dear and firm and fast friends after them?’

‘Just so.’

’For the lasting good of both of us, and the lasting happiness of both of us?’

‘Just so.’

’That we might be to one another even much more than they had been to one another?’

‘Just so.’

’It was not bound upon Eddy, and it was not bound upon me, by any forfeit, in case—­’

’Don’t be agitated, my dear.  In the case that it brings tears into your affectionate eyes even to picture to yourself—­in the case of your not marrying one another—­no, no forfeiture on either side.  You would then have been my ward until you were of age.  No worse would have befallen you.  Bad enough perhaps!’

‘And Eddy?’

’He would have come into his partnership derived from his father, and into its arrears to his credit (if any), on attaining his majority, just as now.’

Rosa, with her perplexed face and knitted brow, bit the corner of her attested copy, as she sat with her head on one side, looking abstractedly on the floor, and smoothing it with her foot.