Yet, though she resented them at the time, Margaret and Monica's continual demands for Pauline to be vigilant over her impulsiveness had an effect; and during all the month before they were engaged she tried when she was with Guy to acquire a little of the attitude her sisters desired. Circumstances by keeping them for a good deal of the time at the Rectory made this easy; and Guy exalted by the notion of the formal troth never made it difficult. Pauline tried to recapture more of the old interests of life at Wychford, and she was particularly attentive to Miss Verney, going often to see her in the little house at the top of the hill and sitting with her in the oblong garden whenever the August sun showed itself. "I'm sure I'm sorry it's going to be a protracted engagement," said Miss Verney. "They are apt to place a great strain upon people. I'm sure when I read in The Times all about people's wills, though I always feel a trifle vulgar and inquisitive when I do so, I often say to myself 'Well, really, it seems a pity that some people should have so much more money than is quite necessary.' Only yesterday evening I read of a gentleman called Somethingheim who left £507,106 14s. and some odd pence, and really, I thought to myself, how much nicer it would have looked without the seven thousand one hundred and six pounds fourteen shillings and odd pence. And really I had quite a fanciful time imagining that I received a letter presenting it to me on account of some services my father rendered at Sebastopol, which at the time were overlooked. Seven thousand pounds I thought I would present to you and Mr. Guy Hazlewood, if you would allow me; a hundred pounds to the church; six pounds I had the idea of devoting to the garden; and the fourteen shillings and sevenpence, I remember now it was sevenpence, I thought would make such a pleasant surprize for my servant Mabel, who is really a most good-hearted girl, tactful with the cats and not too fond of young men." "How sweet of you, Miss Verney, to think of such a nice present," said Pauline, who as she watched the old maid's grave air of patronage began almost to believe that the money had been given to her. "No, indeed, don't thank me at all, for I cannot imagine anything that would give me such true pleasure. Let me see. Seven thousand pounds at four per cent, which I think is as much as you could expect to get safely. That's seventy times four--£280 a year." "And Guy has some money--£150 or £115 or it may be only £50." "Let us call it a hundred pounds," said Miss Verney. "For it would be more prudent not to exaggerate. £380 a year. And I've no doubt the Rector on his side would be able to manage twenty pounds. £400 a year. Surely a very nice little sum on which to marry. Oh, certainly quite a pleasant little sum." "Only the gentleman hasn't given you the seven thousand pounds," said Pauline. "No, exactly, he has not. That's just where it is," Miss Verney agreed.