not his son; but if I marry the woman who in that case is
not my cousin, you will not allow me to keep the estate for her, so I
am forced to----"

"Stop, Mr. Hogarth," said Mr. MacFarlane, eagerly.

"I am forced to make a deed of gift to each of you, as I am really in
possession of the estate. I save you all the expense and trouble of
litigation, and I have to begin the world again at far greater
disadvantage than when I was taken from my bank-desk and my 250 pounds
a year two years ago. I have acquired expensive habits; I am two years
older, and I shall have a wife and probably a family to maintain."

"There is a great deal of truth in what you say," said the director of
the Institution, for the sub-matronship of which Jane Melville had
applied in vain. The other four were speechless with astonishment at
the extraordinary proposition which Francis made to them. "Litigation
is long and expensive. I may say, for my body of directors, that we
would be very happy to give some consideration for the very handsome,
the very generous, offer you make to us. It is not right to marry
without being a little beforehand with the world; and it would be very
unfair to accept of all you gained by the will without making a little
compensation for what you have lost. Any personal property, books, and
furniture, that you would like to keep, to the value of 200 pounds, or
thereabouts, and a sum of 400 pounds from each of us, I think would be
fair, to give you a start in a new country. I believe Miss Melville is
a very deserving lady. If it had not been for her youth we should have
had her with us. I hope my friends here will agree with me that this is
reasonable and just."

"You get the estate too cheaply," said Mr. MacFarlane, with warmth.
"Think that Mr. Hogarth might have kept it for ever if it had not been
for this romantic crotchet; think that he might marry Miss Melville,
and having possession might defy you to oust him, and drag you through
court after court, and run you up 10,000 pounds of costs, and after all
the Chancery Courts would decide that he should keep it. Public feeling
is against these restrictions, for they lead to people living PAR
AMOURS if they are forbidden to marry; and Mr. Hogarth's position and
character would be all in his favour. You get property worth 50,000
pounds divided amongst you, and you offer my client a paltry 2,000
pounds out of consideration for his generosity and forbearance."

"I am satisfie