o like Mr Farquhar, even when he said things
the most after her own heart. She heard him, one evening, talking
with her father about the principles of trade. Her father stood out
for the keenest, sharpest work, consistent with honesty; if he had
not been her father she would, perhaps, have thought some of his
sayings inconsistent with true Christian honesty. He was for driving
hard bargains, exacting interest and payment of just bills to a day.
That was (he said) the only way in which trade could be conducted.
Once allow a margin of uncertainty, or where feelings, instead of
maxims, were to be the guide, and all hope of there ever being any
good men of business was ended.

"Suppose a delay of a month in requiring payment might save a man's
credit--prevent his becoming a bankrupt?" put in Mr Farquhar.

"I would not give it him. I would let him have money to set up again
as soon as he had passed the Bankruptcy Court; if he never passed, I
might, in some cases, make him an allowance; but I would always keep
my justice and my charity separate."

"And yet charity (in your sense of the word) degrades; justice,
tempered with mercy and consideration, elevates."

"That is not justice--justice is certain and inflexible. No! Mr
Farquhar, you must not allow any Quixotic notions to mingle with your
conduct as a tradesman."

And so they went on; Jemima's face glowing with sympathy in all Mr
Farquhar said; till once, on looking up suddenly with sparkling eyes,
she saw a glance of her father's which told her, as plain as words
could say, that he was watching the effect of Mr Farquhar's speeches
upon his daughter. She was chilled thenceforward; she thought her
father prolonged the argument, in order to call out those sentiments
which he knew would most recommend his partner to his daughter. She
would so fain have let herself love Mr Farquhar; but this constant
manoeuvring, in which she did not feel clear that he did not take a
passive part, made her sick at heart. She even wished that they might
not go through the form of pretending to try to gain her consent
to the marriage, if it involved all this premeditated action and
speech-making--such moving about of every one into their right
places, like pieces at chess. She felt as if she would rather be
bought openly, like an Oriental daughter, where no one is degraded in
their own eyes by being parties to such a contract. The consequences
of all this "admirable management" of Mr Brads