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Natalie's marriage settlement。
After the usual preliminary phrases had been exchanged； Sir Joseph
showed some hesitation in openly approaching the question which the
little party of three had met to debate。 He avoided his lawyer's eye； and he
looked at Turlington rather uneasily。
〃Richard；〃 he began at last； 〃when I spoke to you about your marriage；
on board the yacht； I said I would give my daughter〃 Either his courage
or his breath failed him at that point。 He was obliged to wait a moment
before he could go on。
〃I said I would give my daughter half my fortune on her marriage；〃 he
resumed。 〃Forgive me； Richard。 I can't do it！〃
Mr。 Dicas； waiting for his instructions； laid down his pen and looked at
Sir Joseph's son…in…law elect。 What would Mr。 Turlington say？
He said nothing。 Sitting opposite the window； he rose when Sir Joseph
spoke； and placed himself at the other side of the table； with his back to
the light。
〃My eyes are weak this morning；〃 he said； in an unnaturally low tone
of voice。 〃The light hurts them。〃
He could find no more plausible excuse than that for concealing his
face in shadow from the scrutiny of the two men on either side of him。 The
continuous moral irritation of his unhappy courtshipa courtship which
had never advanced beyond the frigid familiarity of kissing Natalie's hand
in the presence of others had physically deteriorated him。 Even _his_
hardy nerves began to feel the long strain of suspicion that had been laid
unremittingly on them for weeks past。 His power of self…control he knew
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Miss or Mrs。？
it himselfwas not to be relied on。 He could hide his face： he could no
longer command it。
〃Did you hear what I said； Richard？〃
〃I heard。 Go on。〃
Sir Joseph proceeded； gathering confidence as he advanced。
〃Half my fortune！〃 he repeated。 〃It's parting with half my life； it's
saying good…by forever to my dearest friend！ My money has been such a
comfort to me； Richard； such a pleasant occupation for my mind。 I know
no reading so interesting and so instructive as the reading of one's
Banker's Book。 To watch the outgoings on one side；〃 said Sir Joseph； with
a gentle and pathetic solemnity； 〃and the incomings on the otherthe sad
lessening of the balance at one time； and the cheering and delightful
growth of it at anotherwhat absorbing reading！ The best novel that ever
was written isn't to be mentioned in a breath with it。 I can not； Richard； I
really can _not_； see my nice round balance shrink up to half the figure
that I have been used to for a lifetime。 It may be weak of me；〃 proceeded
Sir Joseph； evidently feeling that it was not weak of him at all； 〃but we all
have our tender place； and my Banker's Book is mine。 Besides； it isn't as if
you wanted it。 If you wanted it； of coursebut you don't want it。 You are a
rich man； you are marrying my dear Natalie for love； not for money。 You
and she and my grandchildren will have it all at my death。 It _can_ make
no difference to you to wait a few years till the old man's chair at the
fireside is empty。 Will you say the fourth part； Richard； instead of the half？
Twenty thousand；〃 pleaded Sir Joseph； piteously。 〃I can bear twenty
thousand off。 For God's sake don't ask me for more！〃
The lips of the lawyer twisted themselves sourly into an ironical smile。
He was quite as fond of his money as Sir Joseph。 He ought to have felt for
his client； but rich men have no sympathy with one another。 Mr。 Dicas
openly despised Sir Joseph。
There was a pause。 The robin…redbreasts in the shrubbery outside must
have had prodigious balances at their bankers； they hopped up on the
window…sill so fearlessly； they looked in with so little respect at the two
rich men。
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Miss or Mrs。？
〃Don't keep me in suspense； Richard；〃 proceeded Sir Joseph。 〃Speak
out。 Is it yes or no？〃
Turlington struck his hand excitedly on the table； and burst out on a
sudden with the answer which had been so strangely delayed。
〃Twenty thousand with all my heart！〃 he said。 〃On this condition；
Graybrooke； that every farthing of it is settled on Natalie； and on her
children after her。 Not a half…penny to me！〃 he cried magnanimously； in
his brassiest tones。 〃Not a half… penny to me！〃
Let no man say the rich are heartless。 Sir Joseph seized his son…in…
law's hand in silence； and burst into tears。
Mr。 Dicas； habitually a silent man； uttered the first two words that had
escaped him since the business began。 〃Highly creditable；〃 he said； and
took a note of his instructions on the spot。
From that point the business of the settlement flowed smoothly on to
its destined end。 Sir Joseph explained his views at the fullest length； and
the lawyer's pen kept pace with him。 Turlington； remaining in his place at
the table； restricted himself to a purely passive part in the proceedings。 He
answered briefly when it was absolutely necessary to speak； and he agreed
with the two elders in everything。 A man has no attention to place at the
disposal of other people when he stands at a crisis in his life。 Turlington
stood at that crisis； at the trying moment when Sir Joseph's unexpected
proposal pressed instantly for a reply。 Two merciless alternatives
confronted him。 Either he must repay the borrowed forty thousand pounds
on the day when repayment was due； or he must ask Bulpit Brothers to
grant him an extension of time； and so inevitably provoke an examination
into the fraudulent security deposited with the firm； which could end in
but one way。 His last； literally his last chance； after Sir Joseph had
diminished the promised dowry by one half； was to adopt the high…minded
tone which became his position； and to conceal the truth until he could
reveal it to his father…in…law in the privileged character of Natalie's
husband。 〃I owe forty thousand pounds； sir； in a fortnight's time； and I
have not got a farthing of my own。 Pay for me； or you will see your son…
in… law's name in the Bankrupt's List。〃 For his daughter's sakewho could
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