ise that, but they could not make him keep his
promise. He would not dislike to travel for six months, on condition
that he should be well provided with ready money. There was much that
was alluring in the offer, and he began to think whether he could not
get it all without actually abandoning his cousin. But then he was to
give a written pledge to that effect, which, if given, no doubt would
be shown to her. No; that would not do. Emily was his prize; and
though he did not value her at her worth, not understanding such
worth, still he had an idea that she would be true to him. Then at
last came upon him an understanding of the fact, and he perceived
that a bribe had been offered to him.

For half a day he was so disgusted at the idea that his virtue was
rampant within him. Sell his Emily for money? Never! His Emily,--and
all her rich prospects, and that for a sum so inadequate! They little
knew their man when they made a proposition so vile! That evening, at
his club, he wrote a letter to Sir Harry, and the letter as soon as
written was put into the club letter-box, addressed to the house in
Bruton Street; in which, with much indignant eloquence, he declared
that the Baronet little understood the warmth of his love, or the
extent of his ambition in regard to the family. "I shall be quite
ready to submit to any settlements," he said, "so long as the
property is entailed upon the Baronet who shall come after myself;
I need not say that I hope the happy fellow may be my own son."

But, on the next morning, on his first waking, his ideas were more
vague, and a circumstance happened which tended to divert them from
the current in which they had run on the preceding evening. When he
was going through the sad work of dressing, he bethought himself that
he could not at once force this marriage on Sir Harry--could not do
so, perhaps, within a twelvemonth or more, let Emily be ever so true
to him,--and that his mode of living had become so precarious as
to be almost incompatible with that outward decency which would be
necessary for him as Emily's suitor. He was still very indignant at
the offer made to him, which was indeed bribery of which Sir Harry
ought to be ashamed; but he almost regretted that his letter to Sir
Harry had been sent. It had not been considered enough, and certainly
should not have been written simply on after-dinner consideration.
Something might have been inserted with the view of producing ready
money,