e me, Mr Harding, if what I say seems impertinent; but
surely it is you that should be prudent on her behalf. She is young,
and does not know the meaning of living on an income of a hundred and
sixty pounds a year. On her account give up this idea. Believe me,
it is sheer Quixotism."

The warden walked away to the window, and then back to his chair; and
then, irresolute what to say, took another turn to the window. The
attorney-general was really extremely patient, but he was beginning to
think that the interview had been long enough.

"But if this income be not justly mine, what if she and I have both to
beg?" said the warden at last, sharply, and in a voice so different
from that he had hitherto used, that Sir Abraham was startled. "If
so, it would be better to beg."

"My dear sir, nobody now questions its justness."

"Yes, Sir Abraham, one does question it,--the most important of all
witnesses against me;--I question it myself. My God knows whether or
no I love my daughter; but I would sooner that she and I should both
beg, than that she should live in comfort on money which is truly the
property of the poor. It may seem strange to you, Sir Abraham, it is
strange to myself, that I should have been ten years in that happy
home, and not have thought of these things till they were so roughly
dinned into my ears. I cannot boast of my conscience, when it
required the violence of a public newspaper to awaken it; but, now
that it is awake, I must obey it. When I came here, I did not know
that the suit was withdrawn by Mr Bold, and my object was to beg
you to abandon my defence. As there is no action, there can be no
defence; but it is, at any rate, as well that you should know that
from to-morrow I shall cease to be the warden of the hospital. My
friends and I differ on this subject, Sir Abraham, and that adds much
to my sorrow; but it cannot be helped." And, as he finished what he
had to say, he played up such a tune as never before had graced the
chambers of any attorney-general. He was standing up, gallantly
fronting Sir Abraham, and his right arm passed with bold and rapid
sweeps before him, as though he were embracing some huge instrument,
which allowed him to stand thus erect; and with the fingers of his
left hand he stopped, with preternatural velocity, a multitude of
strings, which ranged from the top of his collar to the bottom of
the lappet of his coat. Sir Abraham listened and looked in wonder.