n years have elapsed since Mr. Godfrey's death, and taking the sum at
two hundred pounds, with interest at five per cent, a balance of above
three thousand two hundred will now be at your disposal, together with
the annuity on your life; and to arrange the payment of these moneys,
and take measures for their future disbursement, I have the honor to
present myself before you. As for these letters, they are your own; and
Sir Stafford, in restoring them, desires to efface all memory of the
transaction they referred to, and to assure you that, when circumstances
enable him to meet you, it may be on terms of perfect cordiality and
friendship."

"Upon my soul and conscience I don't understand a word of it all!" said
Dalton, whose bewildered looks gave a perfect concurrence to the speech.
"Is it that I have a right to all the money?"

"Exactly, sir; Sir Stafford feels that he is simply carrying out the
wishes of your relative, Mr. Godfrey--"

"But this has nothing to do with the little difference between Sir
Stafford and myself? I mean, it leaves us just where we were before."

"Sir Stafford hopes that henceforth a better understanding will subsist
between you and himself; and that you, seeing how blameless he has
been in the whole history of your losses, will receive this act as an
evidence of his desire to cultivate your friendship."

"And this two hundred a year?"

"Is Mr. Godfrey's bequest."

"But depending on Sir Stafford to pay or not, as he likes."

"I have already told you, sir, that he conceives he has no option in the
matter; and that the mere expression of a desire on Mr. Godfrey's part
becomes to him a direct injunction."

"Faith, he was mighty long in finding it out, then," said Dalton,
laughing.

"I believe I have explained myself on that head," replied Prichard; "but
I am quite ready to go over the matter again."

"God forbid! my head is 'moidered' enough already, not to make it
worse. Explanations, as they call them, always puzzle me more; but if
you 'd go over the subject to my daughter Nelly, her brain is as clear
as the Lord Chancellor's. I'll just call her up here; for, to tell you
the truth, I never see my way right in anything till Nelly makes it out
for me."

Mr. Prichard was probably not grieved at the prospect of a more
intelligent listener, and readily assented to the proposition, in
furtherance of which Dalton left the room to seek his daughter. On
descending to the little chamber wher