“You do not act as I should regarding the villa residences. I would put them down. I would not have it; but, as you say, we were talking of settlements. I think I said we stood as man to man. In round numbers your fortune equals mine, mine equals yours--very well, let us act equally. I will settle five hundred a year on Miss Brookes, do you likewise; what do you say to that?” “Pooh, pooh! I couldn't think of such a thing. Five hundred a year!” said Mr. Brookes, and throwing his cigar into the fireplace, he walked up the room indignantly. “I was wrong to consent to discuss the matter; to say the least, it is premature; I never heard of such a thing. Five hundred a year! This is worse than the Southdown Road, many degrees worse.” “Sir, such insinuations are most uncalled for; I must beg of you to withdraw them. I must ask you to remember you are talking to one at least in the same position as yourself, to a man of seven thousand a year!” “Pooh, pooh! seven thousand a year--you are making that to-day, to-morrow you mayn't be making three. Yours isn't invested money.” Berkins had risen from the great leather armchair, and he stood expressionless as a piece of office furniture, his grave face divided by the green shade of the billiard lamp; Mr. Brookes remained with his back--his straight fat back bound in a new frock coat that defined the senile fatness of the haunches--turned to his guest. He stooped as if to examine his favourite Linnell, but, in his passion, he did not see it. The table, covered with a grey cloth, lay like an account spread out between the moneyed men. “Taking your words into due consideration, I think I had better wish you good-morning, Mr. Brookes.” “Mr. Berkins, I would not wish you to misunderstand me,” said Mr. Brookes, whom the prospect of losing seven thousand a year had suddenly cooled. “My daughter will have--my children, I should say--will have my fortune divided amongst them at my death, and when we come to go into figures you will find--” “But in the meantime, what do you propose to settle on her?” Mr. Brookes hesitated. He was angry at being pressed. Berkins's domineering tone irritated him; he would have liked to bundle him from the house. Presently he said: “I think, considering the very large sums of money my daughters will come into at my death, that a settlement of two hundred a year is ample.” “Very well, in that case I shall settle the same.” “I could not, I will not, consent to any such arrangement. The man my daughter marries must settle on her a sum of money equivalent--” “To what you settle on her.” “To her position, to her expectations,” replied Mr. Brookes, growing more and more angry. “But I don't know what her expectations are; you may marry again.” “I do not intend to marry again.” “Very possibly, but I know nothing of that; business is business, and I should be a fool if I settle five hundred to your two hundred.”