must take his daughter because I owe him two or three
hundred pounds." Such were Ralph Newton's thoughts about the
breeches-maker,--which thoughts were very unjust. Neefit was
certainly vulgar, illiterate, and indelicate; but he was a man who
could do a generous action, and having offered his daughter to this
young aristocrat would have scorned to trouble him afterwards about
his "little bill." Ralph sat trying to think for about an hour, and
then walked to Southampton Buildings. He had not much hope as he
went. Indeed hope hardly entered into his feelings. Sir Thomas
would of course say unpleasant words to him, and of course he
would be unable to answer them. There was no ground for hoping
anything,--unless indeed he could make himself happy in a snug little
box in a hunting country, with Polly Neefit for his wife, living on
the interest of the breeches-maker's money. He was quite alive to the
fact that in this position he would in truth be the most miserable
dog in existence,--that it would be infinitely better for him to turn
his prospects into cash, and buy sheep in Australia, or cattle in
South America, or to grow corn in Canada. Any life would be better
than one supported in comfortable idleness on Mr. Neefit's savings.
Nevertheless he felt that that would most probably be his doom. The
sheep or the cattle or the corn required an amount of energy which he
no longer possessed. There were the four horses at the Moonbeam;--and
he could ride them to hounds as well as any man. So much he could do,
and would seem in doing it to be full of life. But as for selling
the four horses, and changing altogether the mode of his life,--that
was more than he had vitality left to perform. Such was the measure
which he took of himself, and in taking it he despised himself
thoroughly,--knowing well how poor a creature he was.

Sir Thomas told him readily what he had done, giving him to read a
copy of his letter to Mr. Newton and Mr. Newton's reply. "I can do
nothing more," said Sir Thomas. "I hope you have given up the sad
notion of marrying that young woman." Ralph sat still and listened.
"No good, I think, can come of that," continued Sir Thomas. "If you
are in truth compelled to part with your reversion to the Newton
estate,--which is in itself a property of great value,--I do not
doubt but your uncle will purchase it at its worth. It is a thousand
pities that prospects so noble should have been dissipated by early
imprudence."