have I
been made to doubt the propriety of taking this step. People will
say that I am marrying you for,--for your money, in short. It is
an insinuation which would give me much pain, but I have resolved
within my own mind, that it is my duty to bear it. If my motives are
pure,"--here he paused a moment for a word or two of encouragement,
but received none,--"and if the thing itself be good, I ought not to
be deterred by any fear of what the wicked may say. Do you not agree
with me in that?"

Mrs. Prime still did not answer. She felt that any word of assent,
though given by her to a minor proposition, might be taken as
involving some amount of assent towards the major proposition. Mr.
Prong had enjoyed the advantage of thinking over his matrimonial
prospects in undisturbed solitude, but she had as yet possessed no
such advantage. As the idea had never before presented itself to her,
she did not feel inclined to commit herself hastily.

"And as regards money," he continued.

"Well," said Mrs. Prime, looking down demurely upon the ground, for
Mr. Prong had not at once gone on to say what were his ideas about
money.

"And as regards money,--need I hardly declare that my motives are
pure and disinterested? I am aware that in worldly affairs you are
at present better off than I am. My professional income from the
pew-rents is about a hundred and thirty pounds a year."--It must
be admitted that it was very hard work. By this time Mr. Prong
had withdrawn his hand from the table, finding that attempt to be
hopeless, and had re-settled his chair upon its four feet. He had
commenced by requesting Mrs. Prime to hear him patiently, but he had
probably not calculated that she would have listened with a patience
so cruel and unrelenting. She did not even speak a word when he
communicated to her the amount of his income. "That is what I receive
here," he continued, "and you are probably aware that I have no
private means of my own."

"I didn't know," said Mrs. Prime.

"No; none. But what then?"

"Oh, dear no."

"Money is but dross. Who feels that more strongly than you do?"

Mr. Prong in all that he was saying intended to be honest, and in
asserting that money was dross, he believed that he spoke his true
mind. He thought also that he was passing a just eulogium on Mrs.
Prime, in declaring that she was of the same opinion. But he was not
quite correct in this, either as regarded himself, or as regarded
her. He did not c