Alice laid her hand on my shoulder. 'Husband,' she said, 'it would be no good tidings which would deprive us of the happiness which we now enjoy. Think well before you agree to anything that this gentleman, or your cousin, may offer.' So she left us, and carried the boy out again into the fresh air. 'Now, Sir, we are alone.' He looked about him curiously. 'A pretty room,' he said, 'but small. One would take it for the cottage of a fisherman. I believe there are some of these people in the neighbourhood. The prospect either over the river or over the marsh is agreeable: the trees are pleasant in the summer. The Dog and Duck, which is, I believe, easily accessible, is a cheerful place, and the company is polite and refined, especially that of the ladies. No one, however, would think that a son of the great Sir Peter Halliday, ex-Lord Mayor and Alderman, West India Merchant, was living in this humble place.' 'Your good tidings, Sir?' 'At the same time the position has its drawbacks. You are almost within the Rules. And though not yourself a prisoner, you are in the company of prisoners.' 'Again, Sir, your good tidings?' 'I come to them. Scelerisque Probus is my motto. Probus, attorney at law, trusted by all. Now, Sir, you shall hear what your cousin proposes. Listen to me for a moment. You can hardly get on, I imagine, even in so small a way as this appears to be, under fifty pounds a year.' 'It would be difficult.' 'And in your profession, improperly hard and unjustly despised, it is difficult, I believe, to make much more.' 'It is difficult to make much more.' 'Ha! As your cousin said: "They must be pinched--this unfortunate couple--pinched at times."' 'Did my cousin say that?' 'Assuredly. He was thinking especially of your good lady, whom he remarked at the funeral. Well, your cousin will change all that. A heart of gold, Mr. William, all pure gold'--I coughed, doubtfully--'concealed, I admit, by a reserved nature which often goes with our best and most truly pious men, especially in the City of London. I do assure you, a heart of gold.' He played his part badly. His cunning eyes, his harsh voice, the words of praise so out of keeping with his appearance and manner--as if such a man with such a face could be in sympathy with hearts of gold--struck a note of warning. Besides, Matthew with a heart of gold? 'Well, Sir,' I interrupted him, 'what have you come to say?' 'In plain words, then, this. Mr. Matthew has discovered a way of serving you. Now, my dear Sir, I pray your attention.' He leaned back and crossed his legs. 'Your father showed a certain relenting--a disposition to consider you as still a member of the family by that provision as to survival which you doubtless remember.' 'So I interpret that clause in the will.'