y 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 my