A few days after that Ralph went to Sir Thomas, with the object of declaring his decision;--at least Sir Thomas understood that such was to be the purport of the visit. According to his ideas there had been quite enough of delay. The Squire had been liberal in his offer; and though the thing to be sold was in all its bearings so valuable, though it carried with it a value which, in the eyes of Sir Thomas,--and, indeed, in the eyes of all Englishmen,--was far beyond all money price, though the territorial position was, for a legitimate heir, almost a principality; yet, when a man cannot keep a thing, what can he do but part with it? Ralph had made his bed, and he must lie upon it. Sir Thomas had done what he could, but it had all amounted to nothing. There was this young man a beggar,--but for this reversion which he had now the power of selling. As for that mode of extrication by marrying the breeches-maker's daughter,--that to Sir Thomas was infinitely the worst evil of the two. Let Ralph accept his uncle's offer and he would still be an English gentleman, free to live as such, free to marry as such, free to associate with friends fitting to his habits of life. And he would be a gentleman, too, with means sufficing for a gentleman's wants. But that escape by way of the breeches-maker's daughter would, in accordance with Sir Thomas's view of things, destroy everything. "Well, Ralph," he said, sighing, almost groaning, as his late ward took the now accustomed chair opposite to his own. "I wish I'd never been born," said Ralph, "and that Gregory stood in my place." "But you have been born, Ralph. We must take things as we find them." Then there was a long silence. "I think, you know, that you should make up your mind one way or the other. Your uncle of course feels that as he is ready to pay the money at once he is entitled to an immediate answer." "I don't see that at all," said Ralph. "I am under no obligation to my uncle, and I don't see why I am to be bustled by him. He is doing nothing for my sake." "He has, at any rate, the power of retracting." "Let him retract." "And then you'll be just where you were before,--ready to fall into the hands of the Jews. If you must part with your property you cannot do so on better terms." "It seems to me that I shall be selling L7,000 a year in land for about L1,200 a year in the funds." "Just so;--that's about it, I suppose. But can you tell me when the land will be yours,--or whether it will ever be yours at all? What is it that you have got to sell? But, Ralph, it is no good going over all that again." "I know that, Sir Thomas." "I had hoped you would have come to some decision. If you can save the property of course you ought to do so. If you can live on what pittance is left to you--" "I can save it." "Then do save it." "I can save it by--marrying."