we should be so poor."

"He ought to have known that himself."

"But I don't think he ever thinks of such things as that, mamma. I can't
tell you quite what he said, but it went to show that he didn't regard
money at all."

"But that is nonsense; is it not, Fanny?"

"What he means is, not that people if they are fond of each other ought
to marry at once when they have got nothing to live upon, but that they
ought to tell each other so, and then be content to wait. I suppose he
thinks that some day he may have a living."

"But, Fanny, are you fond of him; and have you ever told him so?"

"I have never told him so, mamma."

"But you are fond of him?" To this question Fanny made no answer, and
now Mrs. Clavering knew it all. She felt no inclination to scold her
daughter, or even to point out in very strong language how foolish Fanny
had been in allowing a man to engage her affections merely by asking for
them. The thing was a misfortune, and should have been avoided by the
departure of Mr. Saul from the parish after his first declaration of
love. He had been allowed to remain for the sake of the rector's
comfort, and the best must now be made of it. That Mr. Saul must now go
was certain, and Fanny must endure the weariness of an attachment with
an absent lover to which her father would not consent. It was very bad,
but Mrs. Clavering did not think that she could make it better by
attempting to scold her daughter into renouncing the man.

"I suppose you would like me to tell papa all this before Mr. Saul comes
to-morrow?"

"If you think it best, mamma."

"And you mean, dear, that you would wish to accept him, only that he has
no income?"

"I think so, mamma."

"Have you told him so?"

"I did not tell him so, but he understands it."

"If you did not tell him so, you might still think of it again."

But Fanny had surrendered herself now, and was determined to make no
further attempt at sending the garrison up to the wall. "I am sure,
mamma, that if he were well off like Edward, I should accept him. It is
only because he has no income."

"But you have not told him that?"

"I would not tell him anything without your consent and papa's. He said
he should go to papa to-morrow, and I could not prevent that. I did say
that I knew it was quite impossible."

The mischief was done and there was no help for it. Mrs. Clavering told
her daughter that she would talk it all over with the rector that night,
so that F