and make reference, if she doubts me, to Fothergill, the sheriff's
officers, and the Tozer family."

"She will not doubt you, on that head; nor will she be a bit
surprised." Then there was again a pause, during which Mr. Sowerby
still walked up and down the room, thinking whether or no he might
possibly have any chance of success in so hazardous an enterprise.

"I tell you what, Harriet," at last he said; "I wish you'd do it for
me."

"Well," said she, "if you really mean it, I will make the attempt."

"I am sure of this, that I shall never make it myself. I positively
should not have the courage to tell her in so many words, that I
wanted to marry her for her money."

"Well, Nat, I will attempt it. At any rate, I am not afraid of her.
She and I are excellent friends, and, to tell the truth, I think I
like her better than any other woman that I know; but I never should
have been intimate with her, had it not been for your sake."

"And now you will have to quarrel with her, also for my sake?"

"Not at all. You'll find that whether she accedes to my proposition
or not, we shall continue friends. I do not think that she would die
for me--nor I for her. But as the world goes we suit each other.
Such a little trifle as this will not break our loves." And so it
was settled. On the following day Mrs. Harold Smith was to find an
opportunity of explaining the whole matter to Miss Dunstable, and
was to ask that lady to share her fortune--some incredible number of
thousands of pounds--with the bankrupt member for West Barsetshire,
who in return was to bestow on her--himself and his debts. Mrs.
Harold Smith had spoken no more than the truth in saying that she
and Miss Dunstable suited one another. And she had not improperly
described their friendship. They were not prepared to die, one for
the sake of the other. They had said nothing to each other of mutual
love and affection. They never kissed, or cried, or made speeches,
when they met or when they parted. There was no great benefit for
which either had to be grateful to the other; no terrible injury
which either had forgiven. But they suited each other; and this, I
take it, is the secret of most of our pleasantest intercourse in the
world. And it was almost grievous that they should suit each other,
for Miss Dunstable was much the worthier of the two, had she but
known it herself. It was almost to be lamented that she should have
found herself able to live with Mrs. Harol