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m as to his health, but I nevertheless replied, "Matrimony is a subject upon which I have never thought"--(ahem! a De Benyon never tells an untruth!), "I am very young yet, and am too happy to remain with you." "But, my dear boy, I propose that you shall remain with me--we will all live together. I do not intend that we shall part. I really wish, Japhet, you would think seriously of it." "My dear father, allow me to observe, that at present I am not in a situation to support a wife, and I should be sorry to be a tax upon you, at your age; you require many comforts and luxuries, and I presume that you live up to your income." "Then, my dear fellow, you are under a great mistake. I can lay down one hundred thousand pounds on the day of your marriage, with any lady whom I approve of, and still not spend half my remaining income." "That, sir," replied I, "certainly removes one difficulty, at the same time that it proves what a generous and indulgent father I am blessed with; but, sir, with such a fortune, I have a right to expect that the lady will also bring a handsome addition. Miss De Clare is engaged, I believe, to Mr Harcourt, or I might have made strong interest in that quarter." "Something, my dear boy; but a moderate fortune now-a-days is all that we expect with wives, and the best wives are those who are not born to too much wealth; still she should bring something; but tell me, Japhet, who is that young lady whom you thought handsomer than Miss De Clare?" "A Miss Temple, sir." "Temple--it is a very good name. I think girls brought up in the country make the best wives." "They do, sir, most certainly; they are more domestic, and make their husbands more content and happy at home." "Well, my dear boy, I have mentioned the subject, and wish you would think of it. You will please me much." "My dear father, I shall be most happy to obey in everything else, but in so serious a point as uniting myself for life, I think you must allow that a little discretionary power should be given to a son. All I can say is this, show me a young person who is eligible, and if I find that I can love her, I will not refuse to obey your wishes." "Well, sir, do as you please," replied my father, very angrily; "but I think, sir, when I desire you to fall in love, it is your duty to obey." "Suppose I was to fall in love with a person you did not like, would you allow me to marry her?" "Most certainly not, sir."
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