“Indeed, my lord, I’m all attention; and I do intend to talk sensibly when I say that I think you are proposing to treat Ballindine very ill. The world will think well of your turning him adrift on the score of the match being an imprudent one; but it won’t speak so leniently of you if you expel him, as soon as your ward becomes an heiress, to make way for your own son.” “You know that I’m not thinking of doing so. I’ve long seen that Lord Ballindine would not make a fitting husband for Fanny—long before Harry died.” “And you think that I shall?” “Indeed I do. I think she will be lucky to get you.” “I’m flattered into silence: pray go on.” “You will be an earl—a peer—and a man of property. What would she become if she married Lord Ballindine?” “Oh, you are quite right! Go on. I wonder it never occurred to her before to set her cap at me.” “Now do be serious. I wonder how you can joke on such a subject, with all your debts. I’m sure I feel them heavy enough, if you don’t. You see Lord Ballindine was refused—I may say he was refused—before we heard about that poor boy’s unfortunate death. It was the very morning we heard of it, three or four hours before the messenger came, that Fanny had expressed her resolution to declare it off, and commissioned me to tell him so. And, therefore, of course, the two things can’t have the remotest reference to each other.” “I see. There are, or have been, two Fanny Wyndhams—separate persons, though both wards of your lordship. Lord Ballindine was engaged to the girl who had a brother; but he can have no possible concern with Fanny Wyndham, the heiress, who has no brother.” “How can you be so unfeeling?—but you may pay your debts in your own way. You won’t ever listen to what I have to say! I should have thought that, as your father, I might have considered myself entitled to more respect from you.” “Indeed, my lord, I’m all respect and attention, and I won’t say one more word till you’ve finished.” “Well—you must see, there can be no objection on the score of Lord Ballindine?” “Oh, none at all.” “And then, where could Fanny wish for a better match than yourself? it would be a great thing for her, and the match would be, in all things, so—so respectable, and just what it ought to be; and your mother would be so delighted, and so should I, and—” “Her fortune would so nicely pay all my debts.” “Exactly. Of course, I should take care to have your present income—five thousand a year—settled on her, in the shape of jointure; and I’m sure that would be treating her handsomely. The interest of her fortune would not be more than that.” “And what should we live on?” “Why, of course, I should continue your present allowance.” “And you think that that which I have found so insufficient for myself, would be enough for both of us?” “You must make it enough, Kilcullen—in order that there may be something left to enable you to keep up your title when I am gone.”