o make
some communication to her as to her own affairs. Everything was now
settled, and Sir Thomas had purchased stock for her with her little
fortune. "You have L20 2_s._ 4_d._ a year, quite your own," he said,
laughing;--as he might have done to one of his own girls, had an
unexpected legacy been left to her.

"That means that I must be altogether dependent on your charity," she
said, looking into his face through her tears.

"It means nothing of the kind," he said, with almost the impetuosity
of anger. "There shall be no such cold word as charity between you
and me. You are one of us now, and of my cup and of my loaf it is
your right to partake, as it is the right of those girls there. I
shall never think of it, or speak of it again."

"But I must think of it, uncle."

"The less the better;--but never use that odious word again between
you and me. It is a word for strangers. What is given as I give to
you should be taken without even an acknowledgment. My payment is to
be your love."

"You shall be paid in full," she said as she kissed him. This was
all very well, but still on his part there was some misgiving,--some
misgiving, though no doubt. If he were to die what would become of
her? He must make a new will,--which in itself was to him a terrible
trouble; and he must take something from his own girls in order that
he might provide for this new daughter. That question of adopting is
very difficult. If a man have no children of his own,--none others
that are dependent on him,--he can give all, and there is an end
of his trouble. But a man feels that he owes his property to his
children; and, so feeling, may he take it from them and give it to
others? Had she been in truth his daughter, he would have felt that
there was enough for three; but she was not his daughter, and yet he
was telling her that she should be to him the same as a child of his
house!

In the meantime Ralph was out on the lawn with the two sisters, and
was as awkward as men always are in such circumstances. When he spoke
those words to Clarissa he had in truth no settled purpose in his
mind. He had always liked her,--loved her after a fashion,--felt
for her an affection different to that which he entertained for her
sister. Nevertheless, most assuredly he had not come down to Fulham
on that evening prepared to make her an offer. He had been there by
chance, and it had been quite by chance that he found Clarissa alone.
He knew that the word