"'Your girls, my dear, have my free permission to settle when and where they like,' said the husband. "But in sounding Mr. Jericho as to his intentions in the matter of settlements, she could make no way whatever. At last she put the point-blank question: "'What do you propose to give the dear child?' (alluding to Monica, for whose hand Candytuft was about to ask). "'Give! I'll give a magnificent party on the occasion.' "'But the dowry; what dowry do you give?' "'Dowry! I thought, my dear, you observed marriage was no bargain? Why, you're making it quite a ready-money transaction!'" At this point the conversation was interrupted by Mr. Candytuft, who, before advocating his own case, warmly espoused that of his foolish friend, Sir Arthur Homadod, the accepted of Agatha. "'He's as bashful as--as--upon my life I am at a loss for a simile. And as he and I are old friends, and as he knew that I should see you--in fact, he's in the house at this moment, and came along with me--he desired me to inform you that Miss Agatha had consented to fix the--the--what d'ye call it--the happy day.' "'Wish them joy,' said Jericho. "'As to the young lady's dowry?' hesitated Candytuft. "'I can't give a farthing; can't afford it, my dear Candytuft.'" The ambassador then speaks for himself: "'You may have remarked my affection for Miss Monica? You must have remarked it?' "'I beg a thousand pardons,' said the wag Jericho, 'but it has quite escaped me.' "Candytuft wanly smiled. "'In a word, my dear sir, we have come to the sweet conclusion that we were made for one another.' "'Dear me! Well, how lucky you should have met!'" Mr. Candytuft beats about the bush for awhile, but at last comes abruptly to the point, saying: "'I _must_ ask--you force me to be plain--what will you give with the young lady?' "'Not a farthing!' cried Jericho. 'Not one farthing!' said the man of money with determined emphasis. "'What is the matter?' said Mrs. Jericho, who entered the room at this juncture. "'Pooh! you know well enough,' cried Jericho. 'Mr. Candytuft wants to marry rich; but that's not all--he wants to be handsomely paid for the trouble.'" After awhile Jericho affects to agree to dower his step-daughter, and he says: "'Let us settle the sum, eh! Well, then, what sum would satisfy you?'" It was a delicate question to put thus nakedly. "'Come, name a figure. Say five thousand pounds.'" Candytuft looked blankly at Jericho, moving not a muscle. "'What do you say to seven?' "Candytuft gently lifted his eyebrows, deprecating the amount. "'Come, then, we'll advance to ten?' "The lover's face began to thaw, and he showed some signs of kindly animation. "'At a word, then,' cried Jericho with affected heartiness, 'will you take fifteen thousand?' "'From you--yes,' cried Candytuft; and he seized Jericho's hand.